Jo Adell's career game couldn't have come at a better time for the Cleveland Guardians originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Cleveland Guardians witnessed Jo Adell have a career day on Tuesday, with the outfielder belting six RBIs in an 8-1 win over the San Francisco Giants. The outburst of production comes at a perfect time for the Guardians, who were just 3-9 since the acquisition of the former Los Angeles Angels player, who came over at the close of the MLB trade deadline.
Adell's boxscore should give many hope as to what this team can do with him in the lineup. On Tuesday, he went 3-4, with the aforementioned six RBIs, one home run and a run scored. An exciting night by an exciting player, which went hand in hand with a stellar outing by another newly acquired player: pitcher Foster Griffin. The former Washington Nationals pitcher, who also came over at the deadline, threw six innings, gave up five hits and one run in the Guardians' lop-sided win.
While Griffin's performance was almost as impressive, the Guardians' pitching hasn't been the all-season issue that the hitting has been. Getting things rolling for the hitters was necessary if they're going to turn around this dogged slump they're currently in during the back half of summer.
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With just six weeks of the season left, and the Guardians hanging out 4.5 games out of first in the AL Central, more consistent hitting nights are going to be demanded upon this unit. The squad was unusually active at the trade deadline and acquired several players, but the record doesn't reflect the infusion of the new talent. Adell's less-than-impressive run so far has been part of it, but now many are hoping his record-breaking game can become a breakout game to propel the Guards down the stretch.
They've scored three or fewer runs in six of the last 12 games heading into Tuesday's contest against the Giants. It's clear that this team needs to be more consistent, which is a common complaint about this lineup over the last few months. Hopefully Adell's career day can be the catalyst this club needs.
Adell's power should help keep pitchers honest in how they pitch to him, as well as the guys before and after him in the lineup. If you think he can punish you with some sloppily thrown pitches, then good things will happen for other guys in the lineup. Adell needs to hit well down the stretch for the Guardians to turn things around and make another miracle run to the playoffs.
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