San Francisco Giants pitcher Carlos Rodon threw heat against the Cleveland Guardians seen here in the first inning at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Fri Apr 15, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Friday, April 15, 2022

One year after throwing a no-hitter against Cleveland (4-3), Carlos Rodón turned in his second strong start of the season for San Francisco (5-2) on Friday, going seven innings in the Giants’ 4-1 victory over the Guardians at Progressive Field in Cleveland.

Rodón (1-0) – who no-hit Cleveland as a member of the Chicago White Sox on April 14, 2021 – needed only 47 pitches in the first five innings and threw 68 pitches through six. After working out of a seventh-inning jam, Rodón wound up surrendering one run on two hits with nine strikeouts and two walks.

Camilo Doval picked up his second save of the season with a scoreless ninth. Tyler Rogers was credited with his third hold, throwing a scoreless eighth.

The Gants provided Rodón with plenty of offensive support, as Brandon Crawford, Joc Peterson and Joey Bart all hit home runs. Crawford, playing his first career game in Cleveland, hit a blast to right for his first homer of the season. He’s homered in 24 different ballparks.

Peterson’s second home run as a Giant – No. 150 for his career – traveled 410 feet to right-center off Guardians starter Zach Plesac ()-1). Bart added a two-run shot in the eighth.

Rodón’s fastball reached a high speed of 99.3 mph, hitting 99 on the gun in his final two innings. His 21 punchouts lead the Majors, and Rodón is second on the franchise list for most strikeouts in his first two starts of a season. Cliff Melton holds the team record with 22 K’s in first two starts in 1937 for the New York Giants.

This was Cleveland’s first home game as the Guardians after being known as the Indians for over 100 years. It occurred on Jackie Robinson Day, marking the 75th anniversary of Robinson breaking Major League Baseball’s color barrier.

In Saturday’s game, the Giants will go with Anthony Desclafani (0-1, 4.91), while the Guardians have Cal Quantrill (1-0, 3.60) on the hill. First pitch is at 2:10 PDT.