The Cleveland Guardians suffered a devastating loss to the Minnesota Twins on Monday night, leaving fans and analysts questioning the future of the team. Following the 20-6 defeat, the Guardians now face the challenge of the rollover factor under manager Terry Francona. With just two games remaining against the Twins, who currently hold a six-game lead in the AL Central, the Guardians must decide whether to surrender and wait for spring training 2024 or take a different approach.
One significant question arising from the game is the unexpected performance of pitcher Lucas Giolito. In his three previous starts against the Twins this season, Giolito had managed to limit them to just two earned runs in 18 innings. However, on Monday night at Progressive Field, Giolito struggled immensely. He allowed a staggering nine earned runs on seven hits in just three innings. It was a disappointing outing for the veteran right-hander, matching his career high for earned runs in a game.
The Guardians recently claimed Giolito on waivers, along with Angels teammates Matt Moore and Reynaldo Lopez. It seems that the Guardians were hoping to acquire the version of Giolito who had excelled against the White Sox, boasting a 2.38 ERA in 13 starts. Unfortunately, Monday night’s performance was far from what they expected. Giolito’s season has been plagued by home runs, having allowed 30 prior to the game. The number increased to 33 after his three innings on the mound, as the Twins launched a total of six home runs throughout the game.
Of particular note was Royce Lewis’ grand slam in the second inning, marking the fourth of his career and the second against the Guardians this season. The loss itself proved to be the worst of the season for the Guardians, both in terms of runs allowed and margin of defeat. The team had also conceded a discouraging 20 hits, including the six home runs.
The Guardians’ struggles were so severe that manager Terry Francona made the unconventional decision to send utility man David Fry to the mound in relief during the sixth inning. With the bases loaded and no outs, Francona opted to conserve his bullpen for upcoming games, despite knowing the inevitable outcome. Fry’s subsequent performance was disappointing as he allowed seven runs on 10 hits, including three home runs, in just four innings of work.
Taking a step back, the Guardians still maintain a slight advantage in the season series against the Twins, leading with six wins to the Twins’ five. However, in order to have any chance of catching up to the Twins, the Guardians will need to win the remaining two games of this series.
Ultimately, the 20-6 loss showcases an urgent need for improvement for the Guardians. With a diminished chance of reaching the playoffs, the team must reevaluate their strategies and find a way to rebound from this devastating defeat.
