Quincy referred to today's start for Gavin Williams as "season defining." If this game is defining the rest of the season, we'll be looking at another playoff berth for Cleveland.
The Toronto Blue Jays rolled into Cleveland with an opener for Game 1 of the three game series. Gavin Williams, coming off of his worst start of the season, came back tonight to throw one of the best starts of the season. In the fifth inning, Gavin gave up a single and a walk. A throwing error by the catcher and a wild pitch by Gavin allowed the only run, unearned, to score under Gavin's watch. Otherwise, the Big Rig was lights out. Gavin threw a career high 13 strikeouts to the Blue Jays and only gave up two hits and a walk in his 7.0 innings of work.
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Hunter Gaddis pitched the eighth, striking out one, and Matt Festa closed it out having only given up one hit.
The Cleveland Guardians scored six runs on eight hits and every run was scored via the home run ball. In the bottom of the fifth, down one, Angel Martínez drew a walk. With one out, after committing an error that gave the Blue Jays the lead, Patrick Bailey sent a fly ball to center for a two run homer.
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In the bottom of the seventh, Angel Martínez got on base to lead things off again. With a single to right, Angel reached first base. Angel Genao came on as a pinch-hitter for Travis Bazzana. On his first pitch of the game, Genao launched a fly ball to the left field home run porch for another two-run home run.
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Angel Martínez, after scoring twice on home runs, decided to hit one of his own in the bottom of the eighth. With one out, Jo Adell singled to right and was lifted for pinch-runner Petey Halpin. Angel Martínez came on, with two outs, and hit a curveball in a high arc out to right center for the third, and final, two-run homer of the night.
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Something to note, Angel Martínez fouled a ball off the top of his foot in the second inning. It took him a bit to get back into it. He, obviously, finished the game and made an great catch the following inning.
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Game 2 of the series is another 6:40 PM EDT start tomorrow. Dylan Cease and Joey Cantillo will be facing off as the starting pitchers.
