Cleveland Doesn't Hit A Lot Of Home Runs, But It's Electric When They Do

Josh Naylor and Andres Gimenez both hit home runs in the eighth inning to give the Cleveland Guardians a win over the Los Angeles Angels.

Tommy Wild | May 14, 2023

Cleveland Doesn't Hit A Lot Of Home Runs, But It's Electric When They Do /

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We've all heard it at this point. "Cleveland can't hit home runs." "The Guardians have no power in their lineup." "They're one of the worst slugging teams in the Majors."

Yes, there is some truth in this. The Cleveland Guardians have hit the fewest home runs in baseball this season and have one of the worst slugging percentages in MLB.

This team isn't built to mash home runs with every spot in the lineup, but the dugout and fans sure do get pumped when they do get into one and put it over the outfield fence. This is exactly what played out on Saturday night.

Josh Naylor has now hit go-ahead home runs in back-to-back games against the Angels.

The first one came in the series opener on Friday night with the game tied at three in the bottom of the eighth inning. Progressive Field lit up as the Guardians took a one-run lead with Naylor's homer.

Unfortunately, Cleveland couldn't hold onto the lead and blew the game in the bottom of the ninth.

However, Naylor had another opportunity to put the Guardians ahead in the second game of the series and he didn't miss it. The first baseman crushed a three-run home run over the right field ball giving Cleveland a one-run lead and a huge momentum shift.

Josh wasn't the only one to hop in on the homer parade though. Andres Gimenez was at the plate just two batters later in the same inning. Gimenez found a pitch he liked and drove it a few seats over from Naylor's.

These home runs capped off a six-run eighth inning and have the potential to be a turning point in Cleveland's season. I haven't seen Progressive Field's stands or the home dugout that energetic and pumped up since last October.

Just listen to this crowd with the bat flip: