The Cleveland Guardians beat the Oakland Athletics 8-6 on July 19, 2025, as Johnathan Rodríguez hit his first MLB homer and Slade Cecconi earned a gritty win.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Just when you thought it was safe to go to bed, the Cleveland Guardians reminded us why they're one of the hottest teams in baseball right now. In a game that stretched past midnight, the Guards secured a thrilling 8-6 victory over the Oakland Athletics, fueled by a night of memorable firsts and career-best performances. The 10-game losing streak feels like a distant memory as the team continues to pile up wins and good vibes at Progressive Field.
The Guardians have now won seven of their last eight games, completely reversing the narrative after a brutal 10-game losing streak.
The story of Friday night's win has two heroes. First, rookie Johnathan Rodríguez, who blasted his first-ever Major League home run, a moment that sent the dugout and the remaining fans into a frenzy. Then there was Slade Cecconi, who gutted out a career-long 8 1/3 innings to earn his first career victory at home. While he gave up six runs, his ability to eat innings and battle was exactly what the team needed. The offense provided plenty of support, exploding for four runs in the third inning thanks to an Angel Martinez RBI single and a two-run shot from David Fry. José Ramírez added two extra-base hits, and Brayan Rocchio delivered a clutch two-run double, proving this was a total team effort.
The good news wasn't confined to the diamond. On Saturday, the team announced that ace Shane Bieber is officially beginning a rehab assignment with the ACL Guardians. This is a massive step forward in his recovery from elbow surgery and a beacon of hope for a rotation that has weathered its share of storms. While we won't see him in Cleveland tomorrow, his return is getting closer every day. In other roster news, reliever Paul Sewald was placed on the 15-day injured list, a move that hopefully allows him to get right and return to form for the second half.
There's no time to rest on their laurels. The Guardians are right back at it Saturday night for game two against the A's. Lefty Logan Allen (6-7, 4.00 ERA) gets the ball, looking to build on the team's momentum. He'll face veteran right-hander Luis Severino (2-11, 5.16 ERA), who has struggled for Oakland this season. This is a prime opportunity for the Guards to clinch another series win and continue their climb back up the AL Central standings, where they currently sit in second place with a 47-49 record.
It's amazing what a difference a week makes. The Guardians are playing with confidence, getting contributions from up and down the roster, and now have their ace on the comeback trail. The energy is back. The wins are back. Let's see if Logan Allen can keep the train rolling tonight and deliver another series victory for the good guys.
