David Fry homered in his return, but baserunning errors doomed the Guardians in a 4-2 loss to the Astros on June 7. Logan Allen takes the loss for Cleveland.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a night of conflicting emotions at Progressive Field. The buzz from David Fry's return to the lineup was electric, and he delivered on cue with a solo shot. But that lone bright spot was swallowed by a sea of frustration as the Guardians stumbled in a 4-2 loss to the Houston Astros, plagued by costly mistakes on the bases and an inability to capitalize on opportunities.
Two runners thrown out at second base in the very first inning. That's how the night started, and it was a sign of things to come.
The game felt lost long before the final out. The first inning was a microcosm of the evening's struggles. With a chance to jump on Astros starter Colton Gordon early, both Angel Martínez and José Ramírez were gunned down trying to stretch singles into doubles. The rally fizzled, and the momentum was gone. Houston made Cleveland pay in the fifth when a three-run outburst, fueled by Jose Altuve's infield single and Christian Walker's two-run knock, put the game out of reach. Starter Logan Allen wasn't bad, but he wasn't sharp either, taking the loss after allowing those three crucial runs.
The best news of the day undoubtedly came before the first pitch, with the Guardians activating first baseman David Fry from the 60-day injured list. To make room, pitcher Cody Bolton was designated for assignment. Fry wasted no time reminding fans what they'd been missing, launching a solo home run in the sixth inning. His power from the right side is a desperately needed component for this lineup, and seeing him contribute immediately is a massive boost for a team that's been scuffling.
Adding to the theme of a frustrating night, Carlos Santana's impressive 14-game hitting streak came to a quiet end. The veteran went hitless, closing the book on one of the team's most consistent offensive stretches this season. While the Guardians managed seven hits, they couldn't string them together when it mattered, leaving runners stranded and failing to mount a serious threat after their lone runs in the fifth and sixth innings. It was a classic case of missed chances.
Losing three of four is a trend no team wants to see. While Fry's return provides a much-needed spark, one player can't fix everything. The Guardians need to clean up the sloppy baserunning and find that clutch hit that has eluded them recently. They'll get another shot at the Astros tomorrow, and they'll need a much sharper performance to right the ship and get back in the win column.
