Guardians lose one late lead, but forge another in 4-2 win over Braves in 11 innings (2024)

ATLANTA -- Manager Stephen Vogt knows his starting rotation is wobbly. Before Saturday night’s game, he talked about the solution.

“We’re letting hitters get back in the count,” said Vogt. “We just want to pound the zone. When our guys are attacking the zone, pitching in good counts that’s when you’ll see them take the next step.”

Tanner Bibee, a couple of hours after Vogt’s statement, did just that. He threw seven scoreless innings with nine strikeouts and two hits allowed, but was not around when the Guardians beat the Braves, 4-2, in 11 innings at Truist Park.

Bibee’s seven-inning start was the longest by a Cleveland pitcher this season. He was the first Guardians starter to reach the seventh inning since Logan Allen went 6 2/3 on April 3.

The Guardians won it with two runs in the 11th. Josh Naylor doubled home Steven Kwan, the automatic runner, for a 3-2 lead after Andres Gimenez moved him to third and Jose Ramirez was intentionally walked. Pinch-hitter Ramon Laureano scored Ramirez for the second run of the inning on a sacrifice fly.

Nick Sandlin retired the Braves in order in the 11th for the first save his of career. Sandlin, pitching in his native state for the first time as a big leaguer, converted the save in front of family and friends.

The win went to Scott Barlow, who pitched out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the 10th to keep the score tied at 2-2. The Guardians are 4-0 in extra innings. The Braves fell to 3-1.

“That was an unbelievable game by both sides tonight,” said manager Stephen Vogt, who Guardians improved to 19-8.

The Braves (18-7) lost for just the second time in their last 12 games.

Bibee and Charlie Morton dueled through seven scoreless innings before leaving the game. That’s when Cleveland unveiled its small-ball attack against Joe Jimenez in the eighth to take a short-lived 2-0 lead.

Bo Naylor opened the inning with an infield single to third. He was forced at second on Gabriel Arias’ grounder to short, but Kwan reached on a bunt single and Gimenez loaded the bases on another infield single to third.

Ramirez ran his way out of a double play on a grounder to second to score Arias for a 1-0 lead as Kwan went to third. Ramirez and Kwan worked a double steal with Kwan coming home for a 2-0 lead.

“I can’t talk about Jose enough or find the words to describe what he means to us,” said Vogt. “He is the epitome of a professional and the epitome of a baseball player.

“He gives you the hard 90s every time. That’s what got us the win. . .him beating out that double play is what got us the win.”

The Braves tied the score with two runs in the eighth against Hunter Gaddis. Gaddis opened the season with 12 1/3 scoreless innings before tangling with the Braves.

Marcell Ozuna hit a leadoff double to start the rally. Michael Harris II moved him to third on a single to right. He scored on Travis d’Arnaud’s ground rule double down the left field line. Jarred Kelenic tied it with a bloop single to center field.

Harris scored the tying run, but Tyler Freeman threw out d’Arnaud at the plate as he tried to score the go-ahead run.

“Hunter just got hit,” said Vogt. “He’s been perfect up to this point. Hunter has been locked-down for us. Tonight was a one-off. He’s facing a good lineup. A couple of pitches over the middle that they didn’t miss.

“He’s be right back out there tomorrow. He just go hit tonight.”

The Braves threatened Bibee early with doubles in the second and fourth innings. Ozuna doubled off the the brick wall in right field with one out in the second. Bibee stranded him by retiring the next two batters.

Ozzie Albies started the fourth with a bloop double behind third base. Bibee struck out Austin Riley on a 3-2 pitch in the dirt and then started a 1-6-5-3 double play to end the inning.

Matt Olson sent a tapper back to the mound with Albies trying to advance to third. Bibee threw to Arias at short, who fired to Ramirez at third, who tagged Albies and then threw to Josh Naylor at first to get Olson, who had rounded the bag.

“Jose is an elite player,” said Josh Naylor. “His game tells you everything. He works hard and he plays the entire game -- offense, defense, baserunning, everything. He’s the complete package.”

Morton limited the Guardians to a pair of infield hits through five innings. Ramirez reached on a single to shortstop in the first and Kwan beat out slow roller to the first base side of the mound in the third.

The Guardians finally reached the outfield grass against 40-year-old Morton in the sixth inning. Gimenez blooped a one-out single into right field to break an 0 for 14 slump. Ramirez forced him at second on a grounder to second.

Josh Naylor followed with a double down the right field line. It was headed for the corner, but Ronald Acuna Jr. speared the ball, turned and fired to Olson, the cutoff man. Olson threw home where d’Arnaud applied the tag to the headfirst sliding Ramirez to end the inning.

Ramirez was out by plenty as he checked to see if d’Arnaud was OK.

Morton allowed four hits in seven innings with six strikeouts. Bibee threw 73 percent of his pitches (66 for 91) for strikes.

“You can’t say enough about what the bullpen has done for us so far,” said Vogt. “But tonight Tanner Bibee was the story. He gave us exactly what we needed. It was absolutely beautiful.”

Next: RHP Ben Lively (0-1, 2.38) vs. RHP Bryce Elder (1-0, 0.00) Sunday at 1:35 p.m. Bally Sports Great Lakes, WTAM, WMMS and the Guardians radio network will carry the game.

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