Cleveland Guardians beat Chicago White Sox in home opener, same day as solar eclipse
Finally, Progressive Field reopened its doors for the 2024 season Monday — and there are a number of new items and renovations of which to take note — and the Guardians took down the Chicago White Sox 4-0.
The Guardians improved to 8-2, tied for the best record in MLB when the game finished.
After needing to be safe when it comes to the total solar eclipse, and while needing to battle what could be horrid traffic conditions, fans could again pour into Progressive Field, as the Guardians kicked off their home schedule with a 5:10 p.m. first pitch.
It came on the heels of some tremendously bad news for the team, as Shane Bieber will need to undergo Tommy John surgery, ending his 2024 season just as it was beginning on a high note. The Guardians have played well under new manager Stephen Vogt, though, in the wake of that gut punch.
As Bieber was introduced before the game, he received a loud ovation and tapped his heart a few times as a nod to the Progressive Field fans.
Sunday's rainout in Minnesota jumbled the Guardians rotation a bit, allowing Triston McKenzie to start Monday's opener. It also might allow the Guardians to wait a few days to really sort through their rotational plans following the loss of Bieber.
Check back here for updates and analysis during Monday's game.
Bottom 9th: Closer Emmanuel Clase completes the shutout
The White Sox finished the game with eight runners on base.
A few Chicago mistakes and a Jose Ramirez home run were more than enough to take down the rebuilding White Sox.
It's been a long time since the Guardians had both great weather and a win for their home opener.
Top 8th: Guardians cruising to shutout of White Sox
The White Sox have done all right to find some base runners, but they have lacked the ability to make any of them count.
Tim Herrin retired the second batter he faced to end the sixth inning, and Hunter Gaddis and Cade Smith have followed with quick innings of their own.
This White Sox lineup also just really lacks any real punch of any kind. It's gonna be a long season (or several) in Chicago.
Bottom 6th: Triston McKenzie's day is done after nearly six scoreless innings
The Guardians are going to their bullpen after a mostly solid outing from McKenzie, who tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings. He walked four, but allowed only three hits and struck out two. There are some velocity concerns the Guardians might need to address, but he was solid today other than the walks, albeit it against a glorified AAA lineup like the White Sox.
The Guardians are turning to Tim Herrin with a 4-0 lead.
Bottom 5th: Jose Ramirez homers off Bryan Shaw to extend Guardians lead over White Sox
A familiar face, a familiar result.
With a runner on, and facing former teammate Bryan Shaw, Jose Ramirez drilled a two-run home run to right field. It extended the Guardians' lead over the White Sox to 4-0.
It was Ramirez's 218th career home run. He's in fifth no the Guardians' all-time home run list, and has a chance to pass some elite names in franchise history by the end of this season.
Top 5th: Triston McKenzie is through five scoreless innings — barely
McKenzie continues to work around trouble. The White Sox put two runners into scoring position, but McKenzie induced an inning-ending ground ball to first baseman Josh Naylor.
Through five innings, McKenzie has allowed just two hits, but he's walked four, along with two strikeouts. It hasn't been his sharpest day, but he's navigated around traffic to keep the White Sox off the board.
Bottom 4th: Guardians score, again thanks to a White Sox mistake
The White Sox keep doing the scoring for the Guardians.
With the bases, loaded, reliever Tim Hill hit Andres Gimenez to bring home another run that wasn't the result of a Guardians hit.
But again, the Guardians failed to really break the game open. Austin Hedges grounded into an inning-ending double play, and the Guardians will take a 2-0 lead in the fifth.
Bottom 3rd: The Guardians have the lead thanks to a White Sox error
With Andres Gimenez on second base, Brayan Rocchio hit a one-hopper to White Sox shortstop to Braden Shewmake, who couldn't handle it cleanly. The ball dribbled away from him into the outfield, and Gimenez beat the throw home to put the first run of the day on the board.
Steven Kwan then beat out an infield single, but the inning was ended via a Jose Ramirez inning-ending double play.
Triston McKenzie throws three scoreless innings against White Sox
Top 3rd: McKenzie hasn't looked entirely sharp, but he's through three clean innings, with two hits and one walk allowed and one strikeout. The White Sox have threatened, but haven't been able to convert.
While Bieber looked dominant, McKenzie has looked a bit shaky to open the season. But he's stayed out of trouble today.
Andres Gimenez's nice catch ends the first inning against White Sox
Top 1st: Triston McKenzie is through the first inning, thanks to some defensive help from Andres Gimenez, who made a nice leaping gap in shallow right-center field to end the inning and save a run.
Below is some pregame lineups and information.
Cleveland Guardians lineup for 2024 home opener against Chicago White Sox
Steven Kwan, LFJose Ramirez, 3BDavid Fry, DHJosh Naylor, 1BTyler Freeman, CFRamon Laureano, RFAndres Gimenez, 2BAustin Hedges, CBrayan Rocchio, SS
SP: Triston McKenzie
Chicago White Sox lineup for April 8 against Cleveland Guardians
Robbie Grossman, RFYoan Moncada, 3BGavin Sheets, DHAndrew Vaughn, 1BAndrew Benintendi, LFDominic Fletcher, CFBraden Shewmake, SSKorey, Lee, CNicky Lopez, 2B SP: Tanner Banks
How can I watch/stream/listen to Cleveland Guardians at Chicago White Sox
The April 8 Guardians-White Sox game will be televised on Bally Sports Great Lakes. It'll be broadcast over the radio on WTAM 1100 and WMMS 100.7.
Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis1@gannett.com. Read more about the Guardians at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/cleveland-guardians. Follow him on Threads at @ByRyanLewis.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians defeat Chicago White Sox in 2024 MLB home opener
