Guardians extend scoreless streak to 22 innings as sweep looms

The Cleveland Guardians were almost no-hit by a guy making his second big league start. If that doesn’t sum up this season, I don’t know what does.

Tonight’s near-perfect came from Joe Ryan, who held Cleveland off the bases for 6.1 innings before Amed Rosario got on base and made it to second on an errant pickoff attempt. That was the highlight of the offense’s night.

Ryan was projected by FanGraphs to be a middle reliever that wouldn’t debut with the Rays until 2022. He was traded at the deadline for Nelson Cruz, found his way onto his Progressive Field, and almost no-hit a professional baseball team in his first start on the road.

On Cleveland’s side of things, Triston McKenzie pitched about as well as you could ask for: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO. His lone run came in the fifth inning after walking Cleveland legend Rob Refsnyder, who stole second and scored on a Nick Gordon double. Even after a wild pitch that moved Gordon to third, McKenzie settled down to get catcher Ryan Jeffers to ground out and end the inning. He rewarded DeMarlo Hale’s trust in him by coming out shutting down the heart of the Twins order in the sixth.

Bobby Bradley finished the day with three balls hit at 100+ mph and nothing to show for it.

They’ll try to avoid the sweep tomorrow.