Guardians’ Shane Bieber cruises through seven in 3-1 win over Rockies
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Shane Bieber, in his second last start of the spring, couldn’t have pitched much better Sunday at Goodyear Ballpark.
Bieber, who will start the season opener on March 30 against Seattle, pitched seven good innings as the Guardians beat a split squad of Colorado Rockies, 3-1.
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In four starts this spring Bieber (1-0, 1.62 ERA) has allowed three earned runs in 16 2/3 innings. He struck out six Sunday to give him 14 for the spring compared to two walks. Bieber is in line to make his last start of the Cactus League season against the Cubs on Friday.
Richie Palacios earned redemption with a two-run single in the seventh to give the Guardians a 3-1 lead. Palacios won a lefty vs. lefty matchup against Ty Blach when he blooped a hit into short left field with the bases loaded to score David Fry and Jose Tena.
Michah Pries reached on an error to start the seventh. David Fry’s single moved him to second and Tena walked to load the bases. Colorado’s Justin Lawrence hit Roman Quinn to score Pries and tie the score at 1-1.
After Lawrence retired Tyler Freeman, Blach relieved to face Palacios.
Palacios, playing left field, committed an error in the fifth inning that helped the Rockies take a 1-0 lead.
Oops: The Rockies took a 1-0 lead in the fifth when Mike Moustakas drew a leadoff walk and scored on a double by Jonathan Morales to left field. Palacios closed on the ball well, but had trouble grabbing it as Moustakas, not the swiftest of players, scored from first.
Palacios was charged with an error.
Big out: Lefty Tim Herrin relieved Trevor Stephan with two out in the eighth after Colorado loaded the bases. He retired Aaron Schunk on a fly ball to center.
Stephan continued to struggle with his command as he walked two in two-thirds of an inning. In five innings this spring, he’s walked six.
Slam the door: Enyel De Los Santos walked two in the ninth, but a double play got him out of trouble as he saved his first game of the spring.
No no-no: The Guardians were held hitless until Cam Gallagher singled to right with one out in the fifth off Fernando Abad. It was only the third hit of the spring for Gallagher.
He forgot to duck: Moustakas started the second with a double, but was hit on a grounder to short by Jonathan Morales for the first out of the inning. Morales was credited with a hit.
Triple your pleasure: The Guardians turned three double plays against the Rockies -- in the first, second and ninth.
Finally: Cleveland right-hander Hunter Gaddis (0-0, 2.89) will face Texas and RHP Dane Dunning (1-1, 4.06) Monday at 4:05 p.m. Bally Sports (Texas feed) will carry the game. So will Guardians.com
Emmanuel Clase, Luis Oviedo, Nick Sandlin and Eli Morgan are scheduled to follow Gaddis.
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