The Easter Sunday Rally
The Cleveland Guardians were trying to avoid getting swept by the Seattle Mariners on Easter Sunday. It’s been a fun series so far, but will the Guardians answer the bell and get a win, or will they end up getting embarrassed on their home turf?!
The game started on a not-so-good note when Cal Raleigh began to do things for the Mariners. He hit a two-run home run to right field in the top of the first inning to put the Mariners up 2-0. Guardians got on the board after Jose Ramirez drove in a run on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first.
While trailing 3-1 in the bottom of the 9th inning, it was the beginning of something magical about to happen on Easter Sunday. With Andrew Gimenez and Josh Naylor on base, Will Brennan came through in a clutch situation and hit a double to tie the game, 3-3. Mariners would strike back in the 11th inning after a double by Jorred Kelenic and an insurance run by Kolten Wong to put the Mariners up 5-3. The Mariners thought they had the game in the bag. But the almighty Guardians won’t go away.
Andrew Gimenez picked up where he left off last season in clutch moments. He hit a double to left center to bring Naylor home to cut the deficit to 5-4. Next up, Brennan did it again. He singled to right center to tie the game at 5-5. In the top of the 12th, Mariners regain the lead after an RBI single by Teoscar Hernandez.
In the bottom of the 12th inning, Naylor grounded to first to bring Amed Rosario home to tie the game once again at 6-6. Josh Bell, who was 0-for-5 with two strikeouts to that point, stepped up to the player and reached on a fielder’s choice. Jose Ramirez ran from third to home plate /and he got there safely. The Guardians won this game in a weird and anti-climax way, but they avoided the sweep. What a game! What a rally on Easter Sunday!
Bell became the unlikely hero for the Guardians, who signed him to a two-year, $33 million contract in the offseason.
Zach Plesac finished the game with six strikeouts and allowed two earned runs through seven innings.
Guardians will begin a three-game series against the Yankees in an ALDS rematch on Monday Night.
