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'Get that adrenaline going': Guardians enjoy sellout crowds at Progressive Field
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- 'Get that adrenaline going': Guardians enjoy sellout crowds at Progressive Field
CLEVELAND — The first-place Guardians are playing winning baseball and fans in Northeast Ohio are taking notice.
The Guardians opened the second half of the season against the San Diego Padres with sellout crowds Friday and Saturday nights at Progressive Field, and another large crowd Sunday afternoon.
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The Guardians won 7-0 Friday before Padres won the final two games of the series.
"It has been crazy," Guardians center fielder Tyler Freeman said after Saturday night's game.
"I don't think we have had crowds like this in awhile. It is great that they are showing up. It makes us play that much harder and hopefully they keep coming out."
Guardians center fielder Tyler Freeman rounds the bases after hitting a sixth-inning home run against the White Sox, July 2, 2024, in Cleveland.
Saturday's sellout was the 11th this season, the most at Progressive Field since 2017 (13 sellouts).
Through 43 home games this season, attendance is 1,102,244, which is a 22.7% increase from last season's first 43 home games (898,204) and the most through 43 home games since 2008 (1,105,330).
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"Having the fans be here and supporting us and having the energy, it is never a bad thing," Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee said after Friday's game.
"It helps us get that adrenaline going and keep that focus through all nine innings. It is way easier to play in a packed stadium than an empty stadium."
Guardians starter Tanner Bibee throws a pitch during the first inning against the Padres, July 19, 2024, in Cleveland
Leading the American League Central throughout the season has certainly helped the Guardians attract more fans to the stadium.
So has the play of all-stars José Ramírez , Steven Kwan , Josh Naylor , David Fry and Emmanuel Clase .
The all-star trio of Fry, Ramirez and Kwan combined for seven hits, three RBIs and scored four runs Friday.
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The Guardians offense was limited to just one run the past two games.
"We are not panicking," said Freeman, whose triple was the only hit Saturday. "We know the second half [of the season] is business and we are trying to make a run. We are staying calm, we are staying collected and more importantly, we are having fun."
San Diego Padres right fielder David Peralta (24) hits a single during the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park in San Diego on Sunday, June 9, 2024.
David Peralta heating up for the San Diego Padres
Cleveland is a bit of a homecoming for Padres outfielder David Peralta, who is married to Akron native Jordan Laria, a Firestone High School graduate.
Peralta went 2-for-3 Saturday with a single, walk, solo homer and two runs. He is batting .317 (13-for-41) with six RBIs in his last 16 games since June 29 after going 3-for-24 in his previous 13 games.
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Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ .
Guardians center fielder Tyler Freeman hits an RBI single in the first inning against the Giants, July 6, 2024, in Cleveland
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Guardians enjoy sellout crowds at Progressive Field
