HOUSTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 02: Chas McCormick #20 of the Houston Astros celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Minute Maid Park on August 02, 2023 in Houston, Texas.Photo: Logan Riely / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
The Cleveland Guardians' series finale against the Houston Astros came down to two swings...from Astros' Chas McCormick: a two-run home run in the second inning, and a solo shot in the sixth to send the Guardians home with a 3-2 loss and series sweep.
Nevertheless, for the second time this series the Guardians scored first; both times in the second innings. Today they loaded the bases with two outs and nobody on when Brayan Rocchio and Oscar Gonzalez singled, and Bo Naylor walked. Then Gabriel Arias put the Guardians ahead on his two-run double, scoring Rocchio and Gonzalez.
After McCormick's first home run in the bottom of the frame against starter Tanner Bibee, the score remained tied 2-2 until his next one in the sixth off of Nick Sandlin to put Houston ahead for good, 3-2.
Three other Astros collected multiple hits, but only Guardians' Oscar Gonzalez did so, and reached base all four times that he took the plate - he hit three singles and reached on an error in the ninth inning.
The Guardians' starting pitchers kept the team in this series by allowing just five of the Astros' 12 runs in the series. Noah Syndergaard allowed one on Friday in his Guardians' debut before exiting after taking a line drive to his leg in the team's 7-3 loss. Then yesterday, Gavin Williams allowed both Astros runs on Kyle Tucker's two-run single in the third of the Guardians' 2-0 loss (a no-hitter). Finally, today Tanner Bibee allowed two runs via Chas McCormick's first home run, but otherwise held the Astros scoreless.
Despite the loss, the Guardians (53-56) sit just 2.5 games behind the Minnesota Twins (55-53) in the AL Central. Cleveland is off tomorrow and will begin a seven-game homestand on Friday; three against the Chicago White Sox (43-65). The White Sox lead the season series, 6-4, heading into the final meeting between these teams.