Gavin Williams shines but the bullpen collapses as the Guardians fall to the Giants 2-1 on June 20, 2025. A late Wilmer Flores double sinks Cleveland.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It's a story Cleveland fans have seen before, and it never gets any easier to watch. One moment, you're marveling at a masterful performance from your starting pitcher, dreaming of a hard-fought victory. The next, you're watching the bullpen walk off the mound as the opponent circles the bases. That was the painful reality on Thursday night in San Francisco, as a gem from Gavin Williams was erased in a single inning, leading to a frustrating 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Giants.
The Guardians have now gone just 7-13 in their last 20 games, a slide that has fans and front office alike asking tough questions.
For six brilliant innings, Gavin Williams was untouchable. He carved up the Giants' lineup, allowing just two hits while striking out six and keeping San Francisco off the board entirely. The Guardians even managed to scratch out a run in the third, with the ever-reliable Steven Kwan singling and coming around to score on a Carlos Santana RBI single. It felt like that one run might just be enough. But the seventh inning proved to be the team's undoing. Matt Festa entered and promptly allowed a single and a walk. Manager Stephen Vogt made the call to Nic Enright, who then surrendered a crushing two-run double to pinch-hitter Wilmer Flores, flipping the game on its head. Giants ace Logan Webb was equally tough, fanning nine over seven frames, and Camilo Doval locked down his 11th save, leaving the Guardians to wonder what could have been.
This loss wasn't just a single bad night; it's part of a troubling pattern. The defeat drops the Guardians to 36-35 on the season, and their recent 7-13 record over the last 20 games has turned up the heat. With the trade deadline looming, the front office faces a critical decision. Do they believe this team has the pieces to make a run and become buyers, adding a bat or a bullpen arm? Or do they face the music, acknowledge the skid, and consider selling off assets to retool for the future? Every close loss like this one makes that decision even more difficult.
While the big-league club struggled, there were some bright spots in the minors. In Columbus, outfield prospects Petey Halpin and Chase DeLauter both had multi-hit games for the Clippers on Wednesday. On the transaction front, things were quiet, with no new roster moves announced. The team will have an immediate chance to wash the bad taste of this loss away as they travel to West Sacramento to open a series with the Oakland Athletics on Friday night.
The Guardians will send Tanner Bibee (4-6, 3.79 ERA) to the mound against Oakland's Jeffrey Springs (5-5, 4.52 ERA) on Friday night. It's more than just another game; it's a chance to stop the bleeding, build some momentum, and start providing some clear answers about which direction this 2025 season is truly headed. A strong series against the A's could be the first step back, but another stumble could push the team closer to a deadline sell-off.
