Story by
Guardians score, recap as sloppy game leads to loss vs Pirates
- Story by
- Guardians score, recap as sloppy game leads to loss vs Pirates
CLEVELAND — Facing Pirates ace Paul Skenes , the Guardians offense had a tough day that was only made more difficult by some defensive and base running miscues, and Cleveland lost 7-1 to Pittsburgh July 19 at Progressive Field.
Coming off a doubleheader that included a split and a wild ninth inning capped by Travis Bazzana's first career walk-off home run , the Guardians couldn't keep that momentum going as the offense again struggled without Jose Ramirez and Angel Martinez.
Advertisement
Here's how the July 19 Guardians-Pirates game unfolded.
Pirates beat Guardians
The Guardians have fallen 7-1 to the Pirates. It wasn't their sharpest game, and it was more evidence the loss of Jose Ramirez and Angel Martinez has further eliminated their margin for error on a daily basis.
Esmerlyn Valdez hits 2-run home run
Esmerlyn Valdez might be one of the most interesting hitters in the game. He's come onto the scene in a blaze, and has struck out twice and walked twice today before belting a two-run home run in the ninth inning that has the Pirates now up 7-1.
Valdez's OPS is up to 1.106.
Advertisement
Who's winning the Guardians-Pirates game?
This has been one of the uglier Guardians games of the 2026 season, and they'll enter the ninth inning trailing 5-1.
They've had multiple base running and fielding miscues, which isn't gonna work with Skenes on the mound. In this series, excluding the eighth and ninth, the Guardians have scored one run in 21 innings.
Pirates extend lead vs Guardians
This has been an unusually sloppy game for the Guardians, which is not their normal operating procedure.
Billy Cook , having the game of his life, made it 4-1 with an RBI single up the middle in the sixth inning. Petey Halpin 's throw to the plate was a fraction of a second too late.
Advertisement
Cook then stole second base and came around to score on Jake Mangum 's single up the middle, giving Pittsburgh a 5-1 advantage.
Gabriel Arias called out on baserunning mistake
Gabriel Arias appeared to be 90 feet away from scoring, but was instead called out.
At second base, Arias started to go one way and then advanced to third after the ball trickled away into center field. But he didn't retouch the bag as needed, so after the play the Pirates tagged him out to end the inning.
The Guardians have made a few mistakes today and it's the primary reason they're trailing by a run.
Guardians, Pirates score update
The Pirates played some terrific defense, the Guardians didn't, and Pittsburgh again has the lead.
Advertisement
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Chase DeLauter was thrown out at the plate on a terrific throw by Billy Cook from center field. It was another instance of a Guardians player not sliding at home plate. Patrick Bailey did the same thing Saturday night before Bazzana's walk-off home run.
In the top of the fifth, Bailey tricked to throw out Cook after a double, and that throwing error allowed Cook — who's having a great game — to score, giving Pittsburgh a 2-1 lead.
Steven Kwan bunt ties Guardians-Pirates vs Paul Skenes
Some Guards Ball has tied this one in the third inning.
With Petey Halpin on third after he singled earlier in the inning, Steven Kwan laid down a perfect bunt, and Halpin beat the toss home from Skenes to tie it 1-1.
Advertisement
Pittsburgh escaped the inning with it still tied, though, on a strike-em-out-throw-em-out with Bazzana at the plate and Kwan being thrown out at second base.
Billy Cook give Pirates, Paul Skenes lead vs Guardians
In the second inning, Pirates outfielder Billy Cook singled to the right side of the infield to score Nick Gonzalez from third and give the Pirates a 1-0 lead. Pittsburgh has taken the lead within the first couple innings in all three games of this series.
The Guardians have yet to record a hit against Paul Skenes.
Below is some pregame information.
What's the air quality in Cleveland?
As of 1 p.m., the air quality in Cleveland is considered "unhealthy for sensitive groups," according to AirNow.gov , though it isn't nearly as bad as it was Thursday or Friday.
Advertisement
How can I watch or stream the Guardians games today?
The July 19 Guardians-Pirates games can be viewed on GuardiansTV.
American League Central standings
-
White Sox (51-46) —
-
Guardians (52-47) —
-
Minnesota Twins (49-50) 3 GB
-
Tigers (46-52) 5.5 GB
-
Royals (40-59) 12 GB
Guardians lineup vs Pirates, Paul Skenes
-
Steven Kwan, LF
-
Travis Bazzana, 2B
-
Chase DeLauter, DH
-
Brayan Rocchio , SS
-
Kyle Manzardo , 1B
-
Kahlil Watson, RF
-
Gabriel Arias, 3B
-
Patrick Bailey, C
-
Petey Halpin, CF
Ryan Lewis covers the Guardians for the Akron Beacon Journal. He can be reached at rlewis1@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians score, recap as sloppy game leads to loss vs Pirates
