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Quantrill leads Guardians past Rangers 6-3 in DH opener

Posted June 07, 2022 7:00 am

By TOM WITHERS

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Cal Quantrill delivers against the Texas Rangers during the first inning of the first game of a baseball doubleheader in Cleveland, Tuesday, June 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Phil Long) The Associated Press

CLEVELAND (AP) - The sun shined brightly on Progressive Field in the ninth inning just as the Guardians wrapped up another win.

Maybe this season won't be so gloomy in Cleveland after all.

Cal Quantrill stayed unbeaten at home, Owen Miller drove in two runs and the Guardians got back to .500 with a 6-3 win over the Texas Rangers in the first game of a doubleheader Tuesday.

Plagued by bad weather that has impacted their schedule all season, the Guardians are finding their groove. Cleveland has won six of seven.

'œHuge,'ť Quantrill said of getting back to .500. "And to do it early in June. We've said this over and over again. We will not use youth as an excuse. We won't use the rain as an excuse. We won't use the lack of home games or the weird schedule or tough opponents. None of that matters to us.

'œWe think that we can be a playoff team this year, and this was the first step towards that.'ť

Quantrill (3-3) delivered his fourth straight quality start, allowing three runs in seven innings. The right-hander is 7-0 in 20 career starts at Progressive Field. He's the only AL pitcher to make at least 15 home starts and not lose over the past two seasons.

Miller hit a two-run single in a four-run third off Jon Gray (1-3), who had never faced Cleveland before.

'œI had one ugly inning and it cost us,'ť Gray said.

Rangers rookie outfielder Steele Walker homered for his first hit in the majors, and Marcus Semien connected for Texas, which closed within 5-3 in the seventh inning on the solo shots.

Eli Morgan worked the eighth for Cleveland and closer Emmanuel Clase pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 10th save.

The opener of the three-game series was rained out Monday, the seventh time the Guardians have been postponed at home this season. This is their fourth doubleheader at home already in 2022.

Despite the scatter-shot schedule, Cleveland has evened its record for the first time since May 14.

'œIt needs to be a jumping off point, if anything,'ť Guardians manager Terry Francona said. 'œWe've got a lot of baseball to play. It shows if we play good baseball to play. But it shows if we play good baseball, we can win. Our guys know that.'ť

Texas left-hander Taylor Hearn will start the second game against Cleveland rookie Kirk McCarty, another lefty.

Miller's two-run single highlighted Cleveland's four-run third, which included back-to-back RBI doubles by Josh Naylor and rookie Oscar Gonzalez.

With the Rangers trailing 5-1, Walker led off the seventh with his homer over the right-field fence. When he got back to the dugout, the 25-year-old, who made his debut on Sunday, was given the cold-shoulder treatment by his teammates before they broke down and congratulated him.

'œI want to help the team win, ultimately, but little bit of the monkey off the back just to see the ball go good off the bat and see it leave the yard for the first hit,'ť Walker said. 'œIt was a relief, but it also felt good to know that I'm contributing to try and get a win as well.'ť

While Walker got back his home run ball from fans as a souvenir, he won't be using the bat he hit it with again.

Clase broke it in the ninth with a 101 mph fastball.

'œOh, I've seen 101, for sure,'ť Walker said. 'œBut 101 cutting? That's Whiffle-ball-type stuff. That's a whole different deal, a whole different mindset.'ť

STOLEN PROPERTY

The Guardians stole a season-high six bases in the opener.

COVID ISSUES

Before the game, the Rangers placed reliever Brett Martin on the COVID-19 list. Bench coach Donnie Ecker was also placed in health and safety protocols.

DOUBLE TROUBLE

The inordinate amount of rainouts has forced the Guardians to play four doubleheaders, and they've got five more scheduled.

And, it's only June.

Woodward has empathy for Cleveland's situation, which is something that's hard for him to relate to since Texas plays in a domed stadium.

'œWe don't deal with it,'ť Woodward said.

Major League Baseball returned to nine-inning doubleheaders this season after playing seven the last two. Woodward doesn't mind the return, but he's not the one having to worry about wearing out his pitchers.

'œI'm fine with the nine (innings) only because we never get rained out,'ť Woodward cracked. 'œThree teams in our division have a roof and the other two rarely see a drop of rain - in Oakland and Anaheim. It's easier for us.'ť

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rangers: Utilityman Brad Miller (right hip impingement) remains on schedule to return Friday after being sidelined since May 29.

UP NEXT

This will be McCarty's second appearance for the Guardians. He allowed four runs in three innings against the New York Yankees in his debut on April 24.

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Texas Rangers' Texas Rangers' Steele Walker is greeted at home plate by Andy Ibanez after hitting a solo home run off Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Cal Quantrill during the seventh inning of the first game of a baseball doubleheader in Cleveland, Tuesday, June 7, 2022. It was the first hit by Steele in the majors. (AP Photo/Phil Long) The Associated Press

Cleveland Guardians' Jose Ramirez, left, greets Myles Straw after the team's win over the Texas Rangers in the first game of a baseball doubleheader in Cleveland, Tuesday, June 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Phil Long) The Associated Press

Cleveland Guardians' Amed Rosario scores on a two-run single by Owen Miller as Texas Rangers' Sam Huff waits for the throw during the third inning of the first game of a baseball doubleheader in Cleveland, Tuesday, June 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Phil Long) The Associated Press

Cleveland Guardians' Jose Ramirez throws out Texas Rangers' Adolis Garcia during the fifth inning of the first game of a baseball doubleheader in Cleveland, Tuesday, June 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Phil Long) The Associated Press

Cleveland Guardians' Steven Kwan watches his sacrifice fly off Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jon Gray scoring Josh Naylor during the second inning of the first game of a baseball doubleheader in Cleveland, Tuesday, June 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Phil Long) The Associated Press

Cleveland Guardians' Andres Gimenez forces Texas Rangers' Corey Seager at second base during the first inning of the first game of a baseball doubleheader in Cleveland, Tuesday, June 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Phil Long) The Associated Press

Cleveland Guardians' Andres Gimenez forces Texas Rangers' Andy Ibanez at second but can't complete a double play during the fifth inning of the first game of a baseball doubleheader in Cleveland, Tuesday, June 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Phil Long) The Associated Press

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jon Gray delivers against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning of the first game of a baseball doubleheader in Cleveland, Tuesday, June 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Phil Long) The Associated Press

Texas Rangers' Marcus Semien watches his solo home run off Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Cal Quantrill during the seventh inning of the first game of a baseball doubleheader in Cleveland, Tuesday, June 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Phil Long) The Associated Press

Cleveland Guardians catcher Austin Hedges congratulates reliever Emmanuel Clase after the first game of the team's baseball doubleheader against the Texas Rangers in Cleveland, Tuesday, June 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Phil Long) The Associated Press

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