March 16 Game - Does Arizona have that spring rain smell?

 After the rainout last night, the Guardians were back at it today, facing the White Sox and former teammate Bryan Shaw.

This game was the typical Cleveland game.  Great pitching, good defense and timely hitting.  Here are the highlights:

HITTERS

Batting Order: Looks like our regular season batting order.  Kwan, Rosario, Ramirez, Bell, Naylor, Gonzalez, Arisa (substitute Gimenez here during the regular season), Zunino and Straw.  Solid lineup with good alternating of L/R batters and Bell 'protecting' Ramirez.  

Rosario with two line drive hits, one to right and one to left.

Kwan smoked two balls but ended up with an 0-3.  

Straw drove the ball over the right fielder's head for a double and ended 2-3.

Micah Pries with a double, Gabriel Arias with a double.

Naylor, being able to welcome his brother back, went 2-3 with a crushed grand salami in the first that cleared the ballpark out in right field.

PITCHERS

McKenzie gave up some hard contact, especially early, but strengthened as the game went along.   It sounded like his curveball got sharper starting in the 3rd and he got more Ks as a result.  But 4 solid innings, to be sure, albeit against some of the guys in the running for backup/platoon positions for the White Sox.

Clase with a good inning.

Gaddis with 2 strong innings as he makes a bid for the last righthander in the bullpen.  You all know that I think Gaddis and, especially, Curry, have brighter futures in the bullpen than as starting pitchers.  It may take these guys time to get the rhythm of that role but I think they both can be Stephan-like relievers.

Herrin ended it with 2 scoreless even though he was touched for 3 hits, 2 in the 9th when he was saved by a good defensive play by Zach Collins, who threw out former Guardian Erik Gonzalez trying to advance on a would-be wild pitch.

All in all a painless win, it appears.   Still, when you only get 8 hits the offense is still a concern of mine but at least the pitchers had outings to build on. 

Back at it tomorrow.  I am wondering if Quantrill jumps back into the mix since he only had one outing with the Canucks and tomorrow would be his normal slot, following McKenzie, that is.