Guardians shut out for third straight game in series opener against Rays

CLEVELAND — The Guardians' postseason dreams are shrinking by the day and frustration is mounting for players and manager. Cleveland, which entered the night five games out of the American League wild card race, lost another game Monday night, falling 9-0 to Tampa Bay at Progressive Field for its sixth straight loss. The Guardians managed only two hits and were shut out for the third straight game. After the top of the fourth, television cameras caught Stephen Vogt confronting right-hander Tanner Bibee in the dugout. As he walked through the dugout, Bibee yelled something after allowing two runs in the inning — one on a throwing error from catcher Bo Naylor — and Vogt followed the right-hander. Bibee walked away from the manager and Vogt had more words for him. Of Cleveland's first seven hitters, five struck out against left-hander Ian Seymour, who was making the 13th appearance of his career and first start. The Guardians struck out 13 times on the night. Bibee matched Seymour early, limiting the Rays to a hit over the first three innings, but things began to unravel in the fourth. Naylor misfired to third on a wild pitch, allowing Tampa to score its first run, before No. 9 hitter Bob Seymour and his .167 batting average made it 2-0 with a single. Whatever was said in the dugout didn't help Bibee, who surrendered a two-run homer to Junior Caminero to put the Rays up 4-0 with one out in the fifth. Caminero homered again in the seventh. The Guardians signed Caminero at the age of 17 out of the Dominican Republic. He had a promising rookie professional season for them before they traded him to Tampa Bay for pitcher Tobias Meyers in 2022. Another former Cleveland player, Yandy Diaz (2017-18), hit a solo shot to lead off the seventh and chase Bibee, who allowed his career-high 25th homer. After the Diaz homer, the game was delayed 38 minutes by rain before Caminero, who homered for the third straight game, took Tim Herrin deep to put the Rays up 7-0. Austin Hedges pitched the ninth for Cleveland. The Guardians have sold out Progressive Field six times this year, but apparently fans are beginning to lose interest. A crowd of only 16,325 fans took in the series opener against the Rays. Contact Chris Assenheimer at (440) 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him on X @CAwesomeheimer.