Guardians start spring-training season with split-squad wins over Brewers and Reds

MARYVALE, Ariz. — If this was two years ago, maybe even last year, lefty Joey Cantillo would have been worried about his performance Saturday against the Brewers at American Family Field. He was replaced after throwing 20 pitches in the first inning but was allowed to start the second because of the spring-training re-entry rule. Upon his return, Cantillo allowed a home run on his first pitch to Brandon Lockridge before retiring three straight to end his outing in the Guardians’ 9-6 split-squad win over the Brewers at American Family Field. In opening the Cactus League season, the Guardians beat the Reds, 4-2, in the other half of the split-squad at Goodyear Ballpark. In that game, Carter Kieboom, in camp on a minor league deal, delivered the game-winning hit with a two-run double in the seventh to break a 2-2 tie. “Giving up two runs is not what we want to do,” said Cantillo, competing for a spot in the rotation. “But from a process side, and working on the things I want to do, I think it was a pretty positive day. “I threw a lot of fastballs over the plate. I did some good things.” In the past, Cantillo has been too self-critical. He’s learning to look at the big picture, especially in spring training where the scores don’t count. “I can always be hard on myself and pick apart some things,” said Cantillo, who allowed two runs in 1 1/3 innings with two strikeouts. “But having some maturity, having a better view of what we’re trying to do as a whole (is important). “And coming off last year, we’re going to learn to pick apart the good things.” The Guardians rallied from a 2-0 deficit against the Brewers for the win. Nolan Jones doubled, homered and drove in four runs to lead the offense. Jones, coming off a bad season, doubled home one run in the fourth and hit a three-run homer in the sixth. “What I really liked today is that Nolan was getting the head of the bat out,” said manager Stephen Vogt. “A lot of the time last year he was pushing the ball to left field. For Nolan it’s just a matter of how he’s turning. He’s turning in the box really well.” Prospects Chase DeLauter and Travis Bazzana contributed to the win as well. DeLauter, hitting leadoff and playing center field, singled in his first two at-bats. Bazzana drew a bases-loaded walk in the fourth for a 2-2 tie. The game featured the Automatic Ball and Strike challenge system. There were seven challenges in the game with the Guardians making six of them. Catcher Austin Hedges put it to use in the second when he challenged a ball call to David Hamilton with Cantillo on the mound. The replay showed Cantillo threw a strike at the bottom of the zone and Hamilton was called out. “I was glad that Hedgy challenged right there,” said Cantillo. “He’s the best in the business at what he does and I had thrown a lot of pitches.” In the sixth, catching prospect Cooper Ingle challenged a strike call. The replay proved him right and two pitches later he hit a three-run homer to right off Brett Wichrowski for a 9-4 lead. If the strike call had stood, Ingle would have been down in the count 0-2. Instead, he was 1-1 and eventually homered on a 2-1 pitch. “We got a strikeout from Hedgy and Coop went from 0-2 to 1-1 and earned himself a 2-1 fastball,” said Vogt. “Those are the times to use it. We’re going to continue to use it and learn from it.” The Reds took a 2-0 lead against Colin Holderman after Logan Allen started and pitched two scoreless innings. Former Guardian Will Benson supplied one of Cincinnati’s runs with a homer. The Guardians tied the score on RBI doubles by Gabriel Arias and David Fry in the fourth and sixth innings, respectively. Kieboom, a former No.1 pick of the Nationals, scored Alex Mooney and Kahlil Watson with the game-winner in the seventh. Next: LHP Park Messick vs. RHP Luis Severino of the Athletics on Monday in Mesa, Ariz. It is the first spring-training start for both pitchers.