Guardians' stellar second half hits speed bump with sweep by Braves

CLEVELAND -- The Guardians have played their best baseball of the season and have been one of the league’s top teams in the immediate aftermath of the 10-game losing streak they suffered before the All-Star break.

This weekend represented Cleveland’s first major speed bump since it snapped the skid.

The Guardians had a tough weekend at Progressive Field, capped off by a 5-4 loss to the Braves on Sunday afternoon as Atlanta finished a three-game sweep. It marked Cleveland’s first time being swept since July 4-6 against Detroit, which marked the final three losses of the losing streak.

The Guardians (63-60) lost two games on the American League Central-leading Tigers (73-53) this weekend and now sit 8 1/2 games back of first place. They also lost three games on the Yankees (67-57) for the final AL Wild Card spot and now stand 3 1/2 games back.

The Guardians entered Sunday an AL-best 23-11 since July 7. They’re looking to quickly turn the page ahead of a six-game road trip against the D-backs and Rangers, which opens on Monday in Phoenix.

“It was frustrating. It was a frustrating weekend for all of us,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “We know we need to play better. We know we need to continue to work and continue to fight. But we’ve got another game tomorrow, so let's get right back out there. Let's get back in the win column and get on another run.”

The Braves entered this weekend 15 games under .500, though they’re perhaps better than their record (56-68, after Sunday) indicates. Their lineup is full of guys who have had plenty of success in the Majors. In other words, if you give them extra chances, they can make it hurt.

That made Sunday’s loss frustrating. A combination of missed opportunities and mistakes caught up to the Guardians.

Cleveland led 4-1 in the fifth when Michael Harris II hit a bases-loaded two-out groundball to second baseman Angel Martínez. Martínez’s throw to first base pulled Kyle Manzardo off the bag. Harris reached on the throwing error as Nick Allen scored from third. Ozzie Albies followed with an RBI single off starter Logan Allen.

“I should have made a better throw,” Martínez said.

Martínez also recorded a fielding error earlier in the inning, when Allen's pickoff attempt got past him at second. Sunday was his first start at second since July 13, and he had seen less time there (211 2/3 innings) this season compared to center field (606 2/3).

“For me, it's not hard at all [bouncing between the two positions],” Martínez said when asked. “I’ve got to be able to make the play.”

Atlanta got on the board in the second after a more unfortunate moment for Cleveland’s defense. Harris hit a sky-high popup behind the pitcher’s mound, in front of Martínez and Manzardo. The ball fell in for a base hit, and Harris scored three batters later when Nacho Alvarez Jr. grounded into a fielder’s choice.

Manzardo noted after the game that he lost the ball in the sun, and he said Martínez relayed to him that he could not see it either.

The Guardians had opportunities at the plate to overcome those moments. They had 10 hits but went 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left 13 men on base. In the eighth inning, they did not score despite Pierce Johnson walking Nolan Jones and Martínez on nine pitches to open the inning.

Steven Kwan offered a first-pitch bunt, which Alvarez snagged out of the air in foul territory. Daniel Schneemann followed with a groundout, and Manzardo flied out after José Ramírez was intentionally walked.

Vogt did not call for the bunt but expressed his confidence in Kwan making that call.

“In that situation, I'm going to trust Kwany to do what he feels is best,” Vogt said of the bunt. “He's a really smart baseball player. So if he’s feeling the bunt in that situation, he has the freedom.”

The Guardians have 39 games remaining this season. The stretch run is close, if not upon us. Urgency is high. They’re also maintaining a day-by-day approach and trying to move past a tough weekend.

“This group, we try our best not to push any panic buttons,” said Bo Naylor, who recorded a career-high four hits, “or give too much thought to whatever the situation is -- whether we sweep, we get swept.

“I think we do a good job of just staying even keeled and focusing on the things that we can control. For right now, tough series for sure, but what we have in front of us is an opportunity to flush it and go out there and compete for the next one.”