Guards knock off defending world champs

The Guardians received stellar starting pitching and a three hit night from Steve Kwan as they knocked off the defending World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-2.

Messick went six innings and allowed five hits and struck out five.

Cade Smith worked the ninth and was touched up for two runs.

Angel Martinez had two hits for Cleveland, which is 3-2. The Dodgers dropped to 3-1.

Kwan got the Guardians going in the top of the third when he rifled a double into the right field corner to score catcher Austin Hedges for a 1-0 lead.

Rhys Hoskins’ walked with the bases loaded and a Daniel Schneeman’s bases-loaded two-run double in the seventh inning gave the Guards a 4-0 lead.

Messick was a star on the night when he shut down the Dodgers and their $317 million payroll.

“I’m so grateful I was able to go out there and glorify the Lord. What a way to start a rookie year,” Messick told The Plain Dealer after the game.

Hedges cleared a huge milestone. He officially became a 10-year man. That means he’s played in the MLB for 10 years. Less than 10 percent of the players who put on an MLB uniform reach that milestone.

For example, Guardians Manager Steven Vogt played 9 ½ years.

The reason I bring this up, Tom Hammilton, Hammy, the radio voice, mentioned it as I listened to it last night. 

Big takeaways from the game on Monday. Messick is no rookie pitcher to mess with; the crowd of 52,173 did not faze the Guadians. Ohtani, the Babe Ruth of our era, is hitting just .167. 

Chase DeLauter walked and struck out but did not record a hit. He did win AL Player of the Week honors.

The Yankees lost to the Mariners, 3-2.

Judge went 1-for-3 with a walk and a strike out.

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