The Cleveland Guardians' slump deepened in a 5-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs on July 2. Despite Carlos Santana's 400th double, the offense has gone ice cold.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
The Cleveland Guardians' offensive crisis has hit a new low. The team dropped its fifth consecutive game, a 5-2 decision to the Chicago Cubs at a breezy Wrigley Field, but the final score doesn't tell the whole story. The real headline is a staggering statistic: Cleveland has now scored runs in just two of their last 45 innings, a stretch of futility that has turned a promising season into a mid-summer nightmare.
The Guardians have now scored in just two of their last 45 innings.
The script felt painfully familiar on Wednesday night. The Cubs seized control early with a three-run second inning off starter Gavin Williams, who battled but couldn't keep Chicago at bay. Williams (5-4) ultimately surrendered four runs on seven hits and four walks. A solo shot from Seiya Suzuki in the sixth inning, his 23rd of the year, served as the final nail. The Guardians' bats showed a brief sign of life in the fourth, snapping a 17-inning scoreless drought with an RBI single from Nolan Jones and a sacrifice fly from Angel Martínez. However, that two-run flicker was extinguished just as quickly, as Cubs starter Matthew Boyd settled in to pitch seven strong innings for the win.
Amidst the gloom of the losing streak, veteran first baseman Carlos Santana gave fans a reason to applaud. With a two-hit performance, Santana collected his 400th career double, a significant milestone that speaks to his remarkable consistency and longevity. While the achievement was overshadowed by the team's struggles, it served as a reminder of the professionalism and production 'Slamtana' continues to bring to the clubhouse every day.
Adding injury to insult, the Guardians placed shortstop Gabriel Arias on the 10-day injured list with a left ankle sprain, retroactive to June 30. The timing is brutal, as Arias was enjoying the best season of his young career. While the MRI thankfully revealed no severe damage, his absence creates another hole in the lineup. In a corresponding move, the slick-fielding Brayan Rocchio has been recalled from Triple-A Columbus to fill the void at shortstop.
Manager Stephen Vogt acknowledged the team's dire need to get back on track, stating they must 'play our baseball' to break out of this funk. The chance to do so comes immediately. In the series finale, the Guardians will send Tanner Bibee (4-8, 3.80 ERA) to the mound in a crucial matchup against Cubs ace Shota Imanaga (4-2, 2.54 ERA). A win is desperately needed to salvage the series and inject some positive momentum before the All-Star break.
With Tanner Bibee on the mound against Shota Imanaga in the series finale, the Guardians face a critical test. It's more than just about avoiding a sweep; it's about finding a pulse, rediscovering their brand of baseball, and stopping this downward spiral before the All-Star break arrives. Tomorrow isn't just another game—it's a chance to prove this slump is a blip, not the new normal.
