Kyle Manzardo's two homers weren't enough as the Guardians' bullpen collapsed in an 8-6 loss to the Rockies on July 30, raising trade deadline questions.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a game that started with a bang and ended with a whimper. Despite a powerful display from Kyle Manzardo and an early lead, the Guardians dropped Wednesday's series finale to the Colorado Rockies 8-6. The frustrating loss felt bigger than just one game, serving as a glaring, last-minute reminder of the team's biggest needs as the trade deadline clock ticks down.
Kyle Manzardo provided nearly all the offense himself, launching two home runs for the second time in his young career.
Things couldn't have started better at Progressive Field. David Fry Ambushed Rockies starter Kyle Freeland in the first inning, launching a 383-foot, two-run homer to give Cleveland an immediate 2-0 advantage. Kyle Manzardo then took over, single-handedly keeping the Guards in the game with two solo blasts. But the early power wasn't enough. The bullpen, a reliable strength for so much of the season, couldn't hold the line. Bennett Sousa, who had been a perfect 5-0, took his first loss of the year after the Rockies rallied late, capped by Josh Hader striking out the side for his 28th save.
In a game the team will want to forget, Kyle Manzardo's performance was one to remember. The rookie first baseman put on a clinic, hitting two home runs for the second time in his burgeoning career. It was a spectacular display of the power potential the organization has been so high on. While it's a shame the heroics came in a losing effort, Manzardo's continued development and ability to change a game with one swing is an undeniable bright spot and a massive building block for the Guardians' offense.
A loss like this, where the bullpen falters, serves as a flashing neon sign pointing directly at the front office. With Emmanuel Clase on the restricted list and the relief corps showing visible cracks in this series, the need for reinforcements is no longer a topic for debate—it's a necessity. Speculation is running rampant, and the Guardians are expected to be active over the next 48 hours. This game didn't just cost the team a series win; it crystallized the stakes for the trade deadline. The time for waiting is over.
The loss to the Rockies stings, but the next 48 hours will define the rest of the Guardians' 2025 season. With the bullpen showing cracks and the offense relying on solo heroics, the moves made—or not made—by the trade deadline will determine if this team is a true contender or just a collection of great individual moments. Buckle up, Cleveland. The real drama is just beginning.
