By MATT PIKE
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Slade Cecconi flirted with franchise history on Monday, when he carried a no-hit bid into the eighth inning of the Guardians’ 10-2 win over the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field.
Cecconi was six outs away from becoming the first Cleveland pitcher to throw a no-hitter since Len Barker, who tossed a perfect game on May 15, 1981. Michael Massey recorded Kansas City’s first hit in the eighth, when he hit a leadoff single. Cecconi bounced back getting Carter Jensen to ground into a 5-6-3 double play and Kyle Isbel to ground out to end the frame.
The Guardians’ offense backed Cecconi with a season-high 16 hits, including seven doubles. Cleveland opened the scoring with a single run in both the first and third innings, Kyle Manzardo hitting an RBI double in the first to score Daniel Schneemann and Jose Ramirez singling in Steven Kwan in the third inning. The Guardians then tagged Royals starter Ryan Bergert for four RBI doubles and six runs in the fourth inning while opening an 8-0 lead. C.J. Kayfus, Brayan Rocchio, Schneemann and Nolan Jones hit the doubles.
The final two runs for Cleveland scored on fielder's choices, the first coming in the fifth inning as Schneemann grounded into a fielders choice and Rocchio scored on a throwing error, Schneemann reaching second on the error with Kwan out at second. In the seventh inning, Kwan reached on a a fielders choice, with Rocchio out at second, and Kayfus coming home to score.
The Royals finally got their runs on the scoreboard in the ninth inning to break up the shutout, Jac Caglianone hitting a two RBI single and driving in Tyler Tolbert and Mike Yastrzemski. Kansas City had just three hits in the game overall, with four reaching base on walks. Royals All-Star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. was not in the starting lineup for the third straight game due to back spasms. Manager Matt Quatraro said Witt ran and did some fielding before the game without any issues and was possible to see “game action.”
Bergert fell to 2-2 on the season with the loss, giving up eight runs on 11 hits with three strikeouts and three walks in 3 1/3 innings. At the plate, Caglianone was 1-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs. Massey and Yastrzemski were both 1-for-4.
Cleveland won its fourth straight game and moved past the Royals into second place in the AL Central. Cleveland entered the four-game series 2 1/2 games behind Seattle for the third and final wild card spot.
Next up Kansas City and Cleveland continue their four game series tomorrow. Noah Cameron (7-6, 3.03 ERA) starts for the Royals against Joey Cantillo (4-3, 3.73) for the Guardians, who makes his second career start against Kansas City. First pitch is at 5:40pm, pregame coverage begins at 5 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
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