Kole Calhoun's Big Blast Lifts Guardians Over Dodgers

Originally posted on FanNation Cleveland Baseball Insider
By Tommy Wild | Last updated 8/23/23

For the first time since 2017, the Los Angeles Dodgers came to Progressive Field to take on the Cleveland Guardians.

Former Dodger Noah Syndergaard was on the mound for the series opener and got off to a rocky start. He gave up three runs in the first town innings including a home run to Will Smith. Thor really settled down after this and ended up pitching 6.0 innings while allowing just four hits and striking out four too.

Cleveland's offense was what really stole the show tonight. We can't say that after too many games.

Oscar Gonzalez hit a solo home run in the fourth inning which is the second of the season and first since being called back up. Gabriel Arias knocked in a run after this as he now has nine RBI in the month of August.

Then Kole Calhoun came to the plate in the seventh and really blew the game wide open with one of the highest home runs hit at Progressive Field this season. The towering drive gave the Guardians a 7-3 lead.

Calhoun is now hitting .355 since arriving in Cleveland and is on an eight-game hitting streak. He's the oldest Cleveland hitter to post a hit streak of 8-or-more games since Jim Thome (8 games, September 7-23, 2011) when he was 41 years old.

The Dodgers had Calhoun in the Minor League system before the Guardians traded for him. This made his home run mean a little more. Kole admitted after the game, "That one felt pretty good."

His emotion rounding the bases tells us just how important it was.

Kole also expressed gratitude to the Cleveland organization for bringing him in and giving him an opportunity. The move may not have made a lot of sense at the time, but we can't deny the impact he's had on the lineup.

Cleveland's bats have needed some sort of spark for the last few weeks. Hopefully, this game can be the momentum the team needs to go on a run.

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This article first appeared on FanNation Cleveland Baseball Insider and was syndicated with permission.

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