WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 14: Cal Quantrill #47 of the Cleveland Guardians pitches in the second inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on April 14, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)Photo: Getty Images/Greg Fiume
WASHINGTON, D.C.--- Josh Bell finally gets hot, hitting his first and almost 2nd home run in a Cleveland uniform Friday night in the nation's Capital, getting a 4-3 win over the Nationals. The Guardians led the league in stolen bases coming into tonight's game with 19, and with the help of Andres Gimenez, have solidified that lead with 22 after Gimenez would steal 2 bases on 2 attempts, along with a stolen base from Will Brennan. On the home run side, these 2 teams are in the bottom of the MLB with 6 for Washington and 8 for Cleveland.
The Nationals got off to their 3-0 lead exclusively in the 4th inning with a solo home run from Luis Garcia and then a 2 run single from Alex Call. The Guardians had a fielding miscue, with Jose Ramirez fielding the hit from Call, then attempting a double play, tried to throw it to 2nd base, but no one was covering. Both starters tonight tested their arms, with Cal Quantrill throwing 104 pitches and Washington starter throwing 95. The Guardians would get their first run in the 6th inning, seeing Amed Rosario start it off with a 10 pitch at bat that lead to him hitting a ground rule double, he would be driven to score from 3rd base after Josh Naylor would smoke a ground ball to shortstop, resulting in a double play. Then came Josh Bell's breakout game in a Guardians uniform, it was only fitting it would happen in a familiar place, in the 7th he would inch the Guardians closer to a lead at 3-2 with a solo home run, the the Guardians would take advantage of a bases loaded situation seeing Will Brennan get a single, then stealing second, both Steven Kwan and Amed Rosario drawing walks, followed by Jose Ramirez drawing a walk with the bases loaded. Josh Bell would nearly hit his 2nd home run of the game in the 8th inning, bouncing off the right field wall advancing Andres Gimenez to 3rd, he would then be brought in by a Will Brennan check swing RBI groundout.
The Guardians will continue their series in Nationals Park in Washington DC Saturday afternoon at 4:05 with Zach Plesac on the mound.