Spencer Arrighetti’s June struggles continued Saturday night at Daikin Park, and Travis Bazzana made sure of it.
The Cleveland Guardians rookie second baseman homered twice and matched a career best with five RBIs as Cleveland routed the Houston Astros 8-1 to even the three-game series. Arrighetti allowed six runs on six hits across six innings, surrendering three home runs after giving up just three in his first 11 starts combined. The Astros dropped to 36-42.
Bazzana wasted no time. He took Arrighetti’s opening pitch of the game—a fastball—and sent it over the right-center wall for a leadoff homer. Kyle Manzardo added a two-run shot in the third. In the fifth, with runners on second and third, Bazzana launched a sweeper deep into the right-center seats for a three-run homer that made it 6-1. All three home runs came off left-handed hitters—a striking development for a pitcher who had been particularly tough on that side of the plate coming in.
Arrighetti was dominant in May, posting a 0.93 ERA and earning AL Pitcher of the Month honors. June has been a different story—Saturday was his fourth start of the month, and he carries a 6.95 ERA across those 22 innings.
Houston’s only run came in the second. Isaac Paredes, Jose Altuve, and Yainer Diaz singled consecutively to open the inning, with Diaz’s hit scoring Paredes. The rally fizzled. Smith’s fly ball to left field didn’t travel far enough for Altuve to tag from third, Meyers struck out, and Matthews went down swinging. The Astros did not put another runner in scoring position against Joey Cantillo was the story on the other side, holding Houston to one run on four hits across eight innings with nine strikeouts, and not allowing a baserunner after the fourth inning.
Nate Pearson, A.J. Blubaugh, and Bryan Abreu combined to allow two runs across the final three innings.
Houston and Cleveland play the series finale Sunday at 1:10 p.m. at Daikin Park, with Kai-Wei Teng starting against Slade Cecconi. It is Father’s Day, with a City Connect Soccer Scarf giveaway for the first 10,000 fans and Kids Run the Bases following the game.
Heading to Daikin Park soon? Check the Astros promotions schedule before your next game.
