Rookie Tanner Bibee, 3 relievers combine on five-hitter as Guardians beat Cubs 6-0

Rookie Tanner Bibee and three relievers joined forces to deliver an outstanding performance, allowing only five hits as the Cleveland Guardians shut out the Chicago Cubs with a commanding 6-0 victory. Despite the lengthy rain delay, Bibee maintained his focus and showcased his talent on the mound, leading the Guardians to triumph.

Before the game, Bibee amused himself by taking a few swings in the batting cage during the rain delay, but once he stepped onto the field, his attention shifted entirely to pitching. He and his fellow pitchers combined to limit the Cubs to just five hits throughout the game, securing an impressive win for the Guardians.

In other baseball news, the Arizona Diamondbacks claimed a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels with outstanding contributions from Nelson, Fletcher, and McCarthy. Additionally, McKinstry’s remarkable three-run homer in the 10th inning propelled the Detroit Tigers to a 4-2 win against the Colorado Rockies. The Kansas City Royals had a strong start, scoring five runs in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Julio Urías and ultimately holding on for a 6-4 victory. Furthermore, the New York Yankees split their doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals, winning the second game 6-2 with Bader and Volpe leading the charge after losing the opener 11-4.

During the game against the Cubs, Bibee displayed his prowess by pitching three-hit ball into the sixth inning, outshining his counterpart Marcus Stroman. The Guardians emerged victorious in a game that was delayed by 2 hours and 45 minutes at the start.

Reflecting on the rain delay, Bibee mentioned that he passed the time doing very little but swinging a bat in the cage. Although the delay was quite long, he didn’t seem bothered, enjoying the company of his teammates and finding ways to keep occupied.

The Guardians’ offense also contributed to the win, with Amed Rosario’s two-run single in the third inning and Andrés Giménez’s RBI single in the sixth inning, which drove Stroman out of the game. The Guardians rebounded strongly after suffering a heavy 10-1 defeat the previous night. In contrast, the Cubs struggled, experiencing their fifth consecutive loss after winning 11 out of their previous 13 games.

Bibee delivered an exceptional performance, pitching 5 2/3 scoreless innings and matching his season-high with nine strikeouts while allowing only two walks. Manager Terry Francona praised Bibee’s ability to navigate through challenging situations, highlighting his potential for further growth and development.

To seal the shutout, Sam Hentges, Nick Sandlin, and Eli Morgan combined their efforts in the bullpen to close out the game for the Guardians.

Unfortunately for Stroman, he endured his second consecutive loss after a seven-game winning streak. The right-hander lasted 5 2/3 innings, giving up five runs and five hits.

Stroman appeared strong in the early innings, bouncing back from a previous start in which he allowed six runs and exited the game with a blister on his right index finger. However, in the third inning, the Guardians took a 2-0 lead with a walk to Bo Naylor, a double by Steven Kwan, and a line-drive single to center field by Rosario.

The Guardians expanded their lead in the sixth inning, with José Ramírez scoring on Giménez’s hit. Will Brennan greeted Julian Merryweather with an RBI single, and two more runs followed when Myles Straw singled and Cody Bellinger mishandled the ball in center field, resulting in a 6-0 lead for the Guardians.

In the medical updates, the Guardians’ RHP Triston McKenzie received a second opinion on his strained ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and is currently processing the information. RHP Peyton Battenfield, who was dealing with right shoulder stiffness, is scheduled to pitch 65 pitches for Double-A Akron as part of his rehab on Tuesday.

For the Cubs, OF Seiya Suzuki returned to the lineup as the designated hitter after missing the previous three games due to a stiff neck. LHP Brandon Hughes traveled to Arizona to begin rehab following surgical debridement of his left knee. Manager David Ross provided positive updates on 3B Patrick Wisdom, who is on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa, stating that Wisdom is progressing well without any setbacks.

The weekend series will conclude with RHP Aaron Civale starting for the Cleveland Guardians, boasting a 2-2 record and a 3.18 ERA. RHP Jameson Taillon will take the mound for the Chicago Cubs, with a record of 2-6 and a 6.90 ERA.

For more MLB news, visit https://bigbignews.net/mlb or follow https://twitter.com/AP_Sports.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about baseball

More about baseball

• Cleveland Guardians Official Website
• Chicago Cubs Official Website
• MLB Official Website
• Full Game Recap on ESPN
• Tanner Bibee Player Profile
• Marcus Stroman Player Profile
• Amed Rosario Player Profile
• Andrés Giménez Player Profile
• Cleveland Guardians Injury Updates
• Chicago Cubs Injury Updates