LOS ANGELES — Parker Messick delivered six scoreless innings and the Cleveland Guardians broke a tie game with three runs in the seventh inning, handing the Los Angeles Dodgers their first loss of the season with a 4-2 victory on Monday. The Guardians’ win spoiled what had been a promising start to the year for the two-time defending World Series champions.
The Dodgers entered Monday with a 3-0 record, having rallied to win each of their opening series games against the Arizona Diamondbacks. They nearly extended that streak against Cleveland, scoring two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning off closer Cade Smith, who also issued two wild pitches. However, the Dodgers’ offense largely sputtered, with key hitters Shohei Ohtani, Kyle Tucker, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman combining to head just 3-for-16 at the plate.
Messick (1-0), in his eighth career major league start, was remarkably efficient, allowing just five hits – all singles – whereas striking out five Dodgers. He needed only 76 pitches to complete his six innings of work. The 25-year-old lefty showcased six different pitches for strikes, generating 10 swings and misses. His fastball topped out at 95.5 mph, according to reports.
“What an outstanding outing that was,” said Guardians manager Stephen Vogt. “It just felt like he was in control the whole time, stayed smooth, executed pitches, got quick outs. Pitch count was really low; he was working efficiently. He did his job and then some tonight.”
The Guardians took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning when Steven Kwan drove in a run with a double off Dodgers starter Roki Sasaki. Sasaki, the first of three consecutive Japanese pitchers scheduled to start for Los Angeles in the series, struggled to locate his command. He was pulled after allowing a leadoff single to Angel Martinez in the fifth inning, having surrendered one run and four hits over four innings, with four strikeouts and two walks.
The game remained tight until the seventh inning when the Guardians capitalized on some control issues from Dodgers reliever Justin Wrobleski. Wrobleski loaded the bases with consecutive singles by Austin Hedges, Martinez, and Kwan. After recording two outs, he walked Rhys Hoskins on a full count, forcing in Hedges and extending the Guardians’ lead to 2-0. It marked the first run allowed by the Dodgers’ bullpen this season.
Daniel Schneemann followed Hoskins’ walk with a two-run double, pushing the Guardians’ advantage to 4-0. The outburst proved to be enough, despite the Dodgers’ late rally.
Adding a historical note to the evening, Guardians third baseman José Ramírez played in his 1,614th game for Cleveland, tying Nap Lajoie for second all-time in franchise history. Ramírez has the opportunity to surpass Terry Turner, who played in 1,619 games, this weekend during the Guardians’ homestand.
Betts’ RBI double and Freeman’s RBI groundout in the ninth inning accounted for the Dodgers’ two runs.
Looking ahead, the Guardians will send right-handed pitcher Tanner Bibee (0-0, 5.40 ERA) to the mound on Tuesday. He will face Dodgers right-hander Shohei Ohtani (1-1, 2.87), who is making his season debut as a starting pitcher. The game is scheduled for Tuesday in Los Angeles.
The Guardians’ victory provides an early-season test for the Dodgers, who were riding high after their opening series win. It also highlights the emergence of Messick as a key piece in Cleveland’s rotation, a development that could be crucial as the season progresses. For a Guardians team that finished strong last year, this win signals they intend to build on that momentum.
