Wild rookie lefty takes blame for ALCS loss: Guardians breakfast

NEW YORK -- Give rookie left-hander Joey Cantillo an A for effort. Not so much for what he did on the mound Monday night in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series, but what he did afterward. This is about how Cantillo handled things after throwing four wild pitches in the Guardians’ 5-2 loss to the Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Three of New York’s five runs were tied to Cantillo’s a record number of wild pitches. “My performance was the difference in the game,” said Cantillo. “So, I live with that. I’m excited to watch all of us get after it Tuesday and the rest of the series.” Cantillo relieved right-hander Alex Cobb with the bases loaded and two out in third inning after Cobb had trouble his back and left hip tightened. Facing lefty Anthony Rizzo, Cantillo threw his first wild pitch to score Aaron Judge from third for a 2-0 lead. After walking Rizzo to reload the bases, he threw another wild pitch to Alex Verdugo to score Giancarlo Stanton for a 3-0 lead. “It wasn’t a matter of me not being prepared,” said Cantillo. “It was a matter of going in there and doing what you’re supposed to do. That’s execute. Tonight I did not execute. I’ll learn from it and be ready for the next opportunity.” Cantillo struck out Verdugo to end the inning and manager Stephen Vogt sent him out for the fourth. He opened the inning by walking Gleyber Torres with a walk and moved him to third base on two more wild pitches while walking No. 2 hitter Juan Soto. Finally, he was done for the night as Pedro Avila relieved. Judge greeted Avila with a sacrifice fly to complete Cantillo’s line – one-third of an inning, no hits, one run, three walks and four wild pitches. The four wild pitches by a reliever are the most in postseason and frahchise history. Rick Ankiel, a starter for St. Louis, threw five wild pitches for St. Louis in Game 1 of the 2000 ALDS against Atlanta. The last Cleveland pitcher to throw four wild pitches was starter Jake Westbrook on April 5, 2010 against the White Sox. “Cobb threw really, really well,” said Cantillo. “It was my job to go in there and face the lefty and get us out of that inning. I didn’t do that. That’s just me not doing my job.” Bo Naylor was behind the plate for all four wild pitches. “He was having trouble getting in the strike zone with multiple pitches,” said Naylor. “They were patient with him and put the pressure on him to force him to get in the zone and it got away from him.” Naylor would have needed to be wearing NHL goalie to pads to come close to blocking Cantillo’s wild pitches. “You always look back and think what you could have done better,” said Naylor. “A few of them were heaters, at this level, and at that velocity, ultimately, you’re just trying to get a glove on it. I think it was a changeup that go away from me. It stayed down and got through my legs.” Naylor said he was not worried about Cantillo’s confidence. “Joey’s not a guy I worry avout when it comes to confidence or getting his mind back to the right spot,” said Naylor. “He’s got a strong head on his shoulders.” This was Cantillo’s second appearance at Yankee Stadium this year. For the 6-4 lefty, there’s nowhere to go but up. In a start on Sept. 21, he allowed a two-run homer to Juan Soto in the first inning and a two-run homer to Judge in the third on the way to a 8-1 loss. For the game, Guardians pitchers threw five wild pitches, while walking seven a striking out nine. It’s a cold morning in the City That Never Sleeps. How about a big bowl of oatmeal with slices of banana to warm you up? Meanwhile, who were the last set of brothers to appear in an ALCS game as teammates besides Bo and Josh Naylor, who did it Monday night? Answer below. MLB has set the broadcast times for ALCS games between the Guardians and Yankees. Game 2 is Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium at 7:38 p.m. Here is the updated schedule for times and TV broadcast for the ALCS and NLCS. The Guardians will try to earn a split in the first two games of the ALCS on Tuesday night when they send Tanner Bibee (0-0, 2.08) to the mound against Gerrit Cole (1-0, 3.08) at Yankee Stadium. This will be Bibee’s third postseason start this year. He has made one start against the Yankees, the second in his career on May 2, 2023. He allowed two earned runs in 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision. Cole has been a nightmare for the Guardians in the regular and the postseason. He’s 7-2 with a 2.82 ERA in 11 regular season starts. In four postseason starters, including two in the 2022 ALDS, he’s 4-0. TBS, truTV, MAX, WTAM, WMMS and the Guardians radio network will carry the game. Wednesday: The Guardians and Yankees are off and will work out at Progressive Field. Thursday: Game 3 of the ALCS will be played at Progressive Field at 5:08 p.m. The Guardians have not announced a starter. RHP Clarke Schmidt (0-0, 3.86) will start for the Yankees. Friday: Game 4 of the ALCS will be played at Progressive Field at 8:08 p.m. RHP Luis Gil (0-0, 0.00) will start for the Yankees. The Guardians have not named a starter. Saturday: Game 5 (if necessary) of the ALCS will be played at Progressive Field at 8:08 p.m. The starters have not been announced. Sunday: The two teams are off on Sunday and will workout at Yankee Stadium. Games 6 and 7, if necessary, are scheduled for Oct. 21 and Oct. 22. Trivia answer: Benjie and Jose Molina played for the Angles in Game 2 of the 2005 ALCS against the White Sox.