How are they in first place? You know the answer: Guards Ball – Terry Pluto

On the evening of July 6, Detroit had just finished a three-game sweep of the Guardians. The Tigers had a 57-34 record. The Guardians were 40-48, 15½ games out of first place.

Here we are … tied.

Here we are … watching Detroit having lost 10 of 11 games, including the last seven.

Here we are … watching the Guardians having won 11 of their last 12 games.

Here we are … watching Guards Ball.

Here comes Guards Ball

Guards Ball means playing the game the right way, the hard way.

Tuesday’s game was all about … Guards Ball.

The Guardians scored three runs in the sixth inning without hitting the ball out of the infield.

Guards Ball.

That’s Steven Kwan coming to bat in the bottom of the sixth inning. Detroit had a 2-0 lead. Detroit had Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal on the mound.

That’s when Kwan dropped down a bunt single.

Guards Ball.

Next up, Angel Martinez. He bunted down the first-base line.

Skubal rumbled after the slow roller and suddenly decided he’d try out for long-snapper. He picked up the ball, still looking at home plate … and flipped the ball between his legs … right over the first baseman’s head.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch had to be wondering … did that really happen? Did my ace suddenly play the part of the joker with that crazy between-the-legs throw?

Yes, he did.

Guards Ball will do that to you. So will the pressure of becoming the team that blew the biggest lead (15½ games) in the history of the Majors.

Skubal’s error put Kwan on third base, Martinez on second … and José Ramírez coming to bat.

I figured Detroit would walk Ramírez to load the bases. After all, the Guardians’ Secret Superstar is a career .367 hitter vs. Skubal.

I figured wrong.

Ramírez hit a dribbler down the third-base line for a single. Kwan scored. Martinez moved to third base. Detroit 2, Cleveland 1.

More Guards Ball

David Fry was batting. He tried to bunt, and fouled the pitch into his face. He went down. The game was stopped for several minutes.

Skubal was worried, holding his head … looking up at the heavens.

He was worried about Fry. He was upset at himself for his error. He probably felt like the baseball gods hated him and Tigers with all those bunts and slow rollers leading to guys on base.

Fry left the game. George Valera came to bat for Fry.

Skubal uncorked a slider that bounced a few feet in front of the plate – a wild pitch.

Martinez scored, making it 2-2.

Ramírez went to second base.

Guards Ball.

Skubal’s face turned scarlet. You could sense him thinking, “How can this be happening?”

Ramírez was dancing off second base. A distracted Skubal looked at home plate. He looked at Ramírez.

He balked.

Ramírez went to third, then scored on a groundout.

Cleveland 3, Detroit 2.

Guards Ball.

Guards Ball is real

The Guardians sent ace Gavin Williams to the mound, and he pitched like an ace.

Six innings, a dozen strikeouts, two runs allowed.

The Guardians bullpen of Erik Sabrowski, Hunter Gaddis and Cade Smith shut down the Tigers in the final three innings.

Cleveland pitchers fanned 19 Detroit hitters.

In the seventh inning, Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt sent Daniel Schneemann up with runners on second and third. The lefty pinch-hitter lined a base hit, driving in two runs.

If you happen to see Vogt buying lottery tickets somewhere, get in line and play his numbers. The manager is as hot as his team.

Before the game, Vogt made a revealing comment:

“This whole month has kind of felt like the playoffs. The belief and confidence these guys are showing up with — that’s what you need in these types of games. There’s no pressure. Go have fun and play baseball. That’s how we’ve gotten here, and it doesn’t change now.”

And that’s exactly what they did …

Guards Ball.