LOS ANGELES, CA — The American League Central Division-leading Cleveland Guardians come to LA with a record of 80-60 as they look to keep their 4.5-game lead over the Twins in that division race. They face a Dodgers club with the best record in baseball and the same 4.5-lead in the NL West over the Padres. The Dodgers, despite numerous injuries, particularly to their overall pitching staff, have shown remarkable resilience.
Teoscar Hernández, Mookie Betts, and the Dodgers have their eyes set on the postseason – Image Credit: Emma Sharon/Latino Sports
The Cleveland Guardians’ 40-man roster boasts a diverse team, with 15 Latino players playing an essential role in the success of this winning franchise. The dynamic of the Latino players on their active roster is particularly interesting. Of the six Latino players on that roster, three are from the Dominican Republic, and three are from Venezuela, showcasing the team’s inclusivity and the players’ individual talents.
1. José Ramírez, Bani, Dominican Republic
2. Emmanuel Clase, Rio San Juan, Dominican Republic (2022 AL LatinoMVP Reliever/Closer of the Year)
3. Jhonkensy Noel, San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic
4. Andrés Giménez, Barquisimeto, Venezuela
5. Brayan Rocchio, Caracas, Venezuela
6. Pedro Avila, Caracas, Venezuela
Emmanuel Clase, recipient of 2022 American League LatinoMVP Reliever/Closer of the Year award – Image Credit: Simon Lindenblatt/Latino Sports
The Dodger’s starter right-hand pitcher rookie, Landon Knack (2-2, 3.00 ERA), had to face a Guardian lineup of five lefty hitters and two switch hitters. Latino starters were Andrés Giménez, José Ramírez, Jhonkensy Noel, and Brayan Rocchio. Knack and Cleveland’s lefty starter Matthew Boyd were locked in a 0-0 game through five innings, allowing one hit apiece. Then, in the top of the sixth inning, Knack finally gave up a line drive to Rocchio, followed shortly by a 371-foot two-run home run into the right field pavilion by Giménez to give Cleveland a 2-0 lead.
Our WiFi is asleep, but we're wide awake.
Turn us up, Gimé!#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/c8d4m6AOOE
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) September 7, 2024
Knack would leave with a line of six innings pitched, three hits, two runs earned, one walk, eight strikeouts, and one home run.
In the bottom half of the sixth, Shohei Ohtani hit a 415-foot home run to dead center to make it a 2-1 game. Rocchio then gave the Guardians some breathing room in the next inning with a 386-foot home run into the Dodger bullpen to make it 3-1 Cleveland.
Rocc Nation. 🫡#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/NA404JMwtG
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) September 7, 2024
But the game was probably decided in the first inning when Teoscar Hernández, Cotui, Dominican Republic, was hit by a pitch and, suffered a left-foot contusion and left the game. He was replaced by a struggling Chris Taylor, who is hitting .173. Taylor struck out twice, and in the bottom of the eighth inning, with one out, Ohtani singled, Mookie Betts doubled, and an intentional walk was issued to Freddie Freeman.
Freddie Freeman awaits in the batter’s box before the Guardians call for an intentional walk – Image Credit: Emma Sharon/Latino Sports
With the tying run on second base, Taylor, now the clean-up hitter, hit into an inning-ending double play. The Dodgers went down 1-2-3 in the ninth inning to give the Guardians the 3-1 win in the first of this weekend’s three-game series.
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