Why Guardians, D-backs benches cleared in Gavin Williams' perfect game bid

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Why Guardians, D-backs benches cleared in Gavin Williams' perfect game bid

Ryan Lewis, Akron Beacon Journal · Akron Beacon Journal

Mon, Aug 3, 2026 ·

7 min read

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CLEVELAND — Many of the unwritten rules of baseball can lead to some different viewpoints on situations depending on which dugout you're currently in, and from there, some rising tempers.

In the case of the Guardians and the Arizona Diamondbacks , it was an exchange of words following one of those unwritten rules, and the gray area of interpretation, that led to a bizarre, benches-clearing incident just as the game — a 5-0 Cleveland win — Sunday, Aug. 2 was entering a rain delay.

Guardians starter Gavin Williams entered the sixth inning with a perfect game bid in tact. Diamondbacks center fielder Tim Tawa led off the sixth inning, and during that at-bat attempted to lay down a bunt.

That's where you'll find some differing opinions on whether that violated an unwritten rule in baseball. Some believe that if a pitcher has a no-hitter or a perfect game going, it should be respected, and you have to earn that first hit. Put it in other words: trying to bunt to break up a perfect game bid is seen by some as cheap.

Others, though, see it as simply a team that's normally losing the game at the point trying to add base runners and win the game.

Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramírez (11) scores a run during the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Progressive Field.
(David Dermer, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Cleveland Guardians first baseman Rhys Hoskins (8) hits an RBI single during the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Progressive Field.
(David Dermer, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Cleveland Guardians right fielder Angel Martínez (1) leaps into the netting to catch a ball hit by Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno (14) during the first inning at Progressive Field.
(David Dermer, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Cleveland Guardians pitcher Tanner Bibee (28) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Progressive Field.
(David Dermer, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Starting pitcher Tanner Bibee #28 of the Cleveland Guardians pitches during the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Progressive Field on July 31, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio.
(Jason Miller, Getty Images)

Starting pitcher Mitch Bratt #60 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on July 31, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio.
(Jason Miller, Getty Images)

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Mitch Bratt (60) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field.
(David Dermer, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

What are the unwritten rules of baseball?

Tawa's bunt attempt was unsuccessful and was fouled off. Guardians catcher Patrick Bailey said something to Tawa, and shortstop Brayan Rocchio threw his hands up. The next pitch was hit by Tawa, on a full swing, for a single into right field.

Play continued for three more batters as the skies opened up and it began to rain. It finally rained hard enough to require a delay.

But as both teams began to exit the field, Guardians manager Stephen Vogt walked toward the Diamondbacks dugout and was clearly heated about something. Third base coach Rouglas Odor was especially irate and had to be held back.

Guardians pitcher Gavin Williams walks off the field as coach Rouglas Odor (second from right) is held back during a scuffle as a rain delay begins in the sixth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Aug. 2, 2026, in Cleveland.

Both managers, Vogt and Arizona's Torey Lovullo, met near home plate. Both benches cleared and gathered around them, with plenty of yelling and finger-pointing happening. Meanwhile, the grounds crew tried to pull the tarp over the infield and needed them all to move, as the rain fell harder by the second.

You really never know what you'll see at a baseball game.

Apr 14, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals catcher Iv‡n Herrera (48) tags out Cleveland Guardians first baseman Kyle Manzardo (9) during the fourth inning at Busch Stadium.
(Jeff Curry, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Cleveland Guardians center fielder Daniel Schneemann, left, almost collides with right fielder Angel Martinez as he catches a fly ball hit by St. Louis Cardinals' Alec Burleson (not pictured) on April 13, 2026, in St. Louis, Missouri.
(Jeff Curry, Jeff Curry-Imagn Images)

Cleveland Guardians catcher Austin Hedges (27) pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the ninth inning on April 12, 2026, in Cumberland, Georgia.
(Dale Zanine, Dale Zanine-Imagn Images)

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Parker Messick throws against the Atlanta Braves on April 11, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia.
(Brett Davis, Brett Davis-Imagn Images)

Apr 10, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) in the dugout against the Atlanta Braves in the second inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
(Brett Davis, Brett Davis-Imagn Images)

Apr 8, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians left fielder Angel Martinez (1) celebrates after hitting a grand slam during the eighth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
(Ken Blaze, Ken Blaze-Imagn Images)

Cleveland Guardians rookie Juan Brito hits a double for his first career hit during the second inning of his Major League debut against the Kansas City Royals on April 7, 2026, in Cleveland.
(Nick Cammett, Getty Images)

Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez acknowledges the fans after becoming the franchise's all time leader in games played during a game against the Kansas City Royals on April 6, 2026, in Cleveland.
(David Dermer, David Dermer-Imagn Images)

Cleveland Guardians' CJ Kayfus celebrates his solo home run with designated hitter Chase DeLauter (24) in the eighth inning against the Chicago Cubs on April 5, 2026, in Cleveland.
(David Richard, David Richard-Imagn Images)

Apr 5, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio (4) makes a catch in the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs.
(David Richard, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez slides safely into second base during the home opener against the Chicago Cubs, April 3, 2026, in Cleveland.
(Andrew Dolph, Akron Beacon Journal)

Apr 1, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Cleveland Guardians second baseman Daniel Schneemann (10) steals third base during the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images)

Mar 31, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) throws to the plate during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
(Gary A. Vasquez, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Mar 30, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Cleveland Guardians catcher Austin Hedges (27) reacts after hitting a double against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Mar 29, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez (44) scores a run off an RBI double hit by Seattle Mariners left fielder Randy Arozarena (56) during the fifth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
(Steven Bisig, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Mar 28, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Cleveland Guardians designated hitter Chase DeLauter (24) celegbrates with centerfielder Steven Kwan (38) after hitting a two-run home run during the tenth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park.
(Stephen Brashear, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Mar 27, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Cleveland Guardians right fielder Chase DeLauter (24) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images
(Stephen Brashear, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Mar 26, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Cleveland Guardians right fielder Chase DeLauter (24) runs the bases after hitting a home run against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
(Steven Bisig, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Tim Tawa breaks up Gavin Williams ' perfect game, both benches clear

After the game, Vogt did not give a direct answer to a question when asked about how he feels, in general, about this particular unwritten rule (players bunting to break up a perfect game or no hitter). But he did make it clear that the reason he was upset with this particular incident was due to some jawing taking place from the Arizona dugout, and who was participating in it, and not the attempted bunt.

"I mean, when things happen on the baseball field, tempers can flare sometimes," Vogt said. "And I was upset because there were people talking to our players that shouldn't be. That was what my [frustration] was about."

There's no doubt that some in the Guardians dugout and on the field were a bit irked by the bunt attempt. But it was the talk back-and-forth after the fact that led to tempers boiling over, and why Vogt wanted to speak with Lovullo.

"I think everybody has different baseball opinions and obviously when things like that happen, some people are going to have opinions one way or the other. What I like to do is I can only control how we play," Vogt said. "And that's not a knock on how anybody else goes about it. That's the facts. But obviously we had a perfect game going, some people are going to be very upset at that. But again, that wasn't the crux of my frustration."

Ildemaro Vargas of the Arizona Diamondbacks argues with Guardians manager Stephen Vogt in the sixth inning, Aug. 2, 2026, in Cleveland.

Stephen Vogt, Torey Lovullo discuss benches-clearing incident

Vogt and Lovullo certainly know each other well. Vogt was a player under Lovullo for two seasons in Arizona. They began to de-escalate things as several members of both teams shouted at one another.

"I thought I needed to say something and then Torey and I talked it out. I thought Torey and I handled it very well," Vogt said. "Obviously when people get together, there's going to be some tempers that flare and things that are said that probably shouldn't be said. And that's probably from both sides today."

In terms of the unwritten rule element of it all, Lovullo viewed the timing of the bunt attempt as the key factor, and why didn't cross the invisible line.

"I'm totally fine with him bunting in the sixth inning of a game," Lovullo said. "I told Vogter, I've had this discussion with Stephen Vogt before when he was in our dugout as a player, I play it clean for six, and you can do basically anything in between the white lines for six innings. Then after that, you got to be careful. It's either black or white for me.

"Vogter and I got together and talked about it. And he saw it the same way I did. He had no problem with what Tim Tawa did based on the conversation there at home plate."

Tawa's point was that bunting is a part of his game in general, and the conditions made it perfect for a bunt, as it had been raining, which can make bunting a bit more advantageous. The game was also still in doubt at that point, with the Guardians leading 5-0 in the sixth inning.

"I think everybody's competing," Tawa said. "I understand the unwritten rules of baseball, and that that's a thing. At the same time, I'm just trying to get on base and help the team and gain some momentum.

"Over the last couple games I've been struggling just in general to find a base hit, so I would've looked for it in any scenario where they'e not playing on the grass, and they're giving me that opportunity, especially a wet field, thick grass is good for bunting. … I get that and respect [all that]. At the asme time, I think I'm trying to do the same thing for my team."

Had the attempted bunt been the play to break up the perfect game, the reason for some anger might have been different. But in this specific case, it was some yelling was taking place, and it wasn't appreciated.

Guardians pitcher Gavin Williams celebrates after center fielder Petey Halpin made a leaping catch of a fly ball at the wall hit by Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo in the fourth inning, Aug. 2, 2026, in Cleveland.

Gavin Williams joins Clayton Kershaw and Chris Sale in exclusive club

In the end, Williams had his day ended by the rain delay. In the process, he became just the third pitcher in MLB history (and the only right-hander) to record five consecutive starts with at least 10 strikeouts and no more than one walk, joining Clayton Kershaw and Chris Sale.

Williams didn't particularly care about the bunt.

"I don't really have any reaction," Williams said. "It is what it is. I don't really care. My job is to get outs and that's what I'm trying to do."

A failed bunt attempt. A full swing and a single to end a perfect game. Some words exchanged. Some tempers flared. Both dugouts cleared. And the grounds crew waiting for it all to fizzle so they can finish laying out the tarp.

There's always something new to see at the ballpark.

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: Why Guardians, D-backs benches cleared in Gavin Williams' perfect game bid

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Why Guardians, D-backs benches cleared in Gavin Williams' perfect game bid

Cleveland Guardians face Arizona Diamondbacks at Progressive Field

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