Andres Gimenez, Brayan Rocchio power Guardians to 3-1 win over Dodgers

When it comes to players one would expect to provide difference-making plate appearances for the Cleveland Guardians in 2024, there are the usual suspects and the others that are normally relegated to being an afterthought. Last night, it was the latter group that came through when the Guardians needed them most.

With the game tied 0-0 in the top of the 6th, it was Andres Gimenez who would deliver with a two-run home run that would also see Brayan Rocchio score, giving Cleveland a 2-0 lead. This long ball from Gimenez proved crucial, considering that Los Angeles' Shohei Ohtani would answer in the bottom of the inning with a solo shot, cutting Cleveland's lead to one. Gimenez being able to connect and hit the ball over the fence rather than be a base hit with a run-scoring would allow the Guardians to keep the lead despite Shohei going showtime in his next at-bat.

Speaking of Rocchio, he too wanted to get in on the action and delivered with a solo home run of his own in the top of 8th to give the Guardians an insurance run and a little extra breathing room. It is not that closer Emmanuel Clase needs a large margin for error, but it is better to have it and not need it rather than need it and not have it. Clase would come on in the 9th to shut the door on just seven pitches to secure the victory for his major league-leading 42nd save of the season.

The performances of Gimenez and Rocchio on Friday night are exactly what everyone wants to see at this time from those two. This is a Guardians team getting ready for the postseason, and every single person knows their chances of success are significantly better if players besides their best three are able to produce on a somewhat routine basis. Now, no one is going to mistake either Gimenez or Rocchio for key cogs in their lineup at this moment in time, but having two bats that are no longer considered automatic and/or easy outs for opposing pitchers will make a huge difference once the postseason begins and it appears they are rounding into that form at just the right time.