CLEVELAND — Guardians rookie left-hander Logan Allen held the Miami Marlins to a solo homer and struck out eight over six innings to win his major league debut Sunday, a 7-4 victory that kept his team from being swept.
Allen ended the day with the game’s lineup card and several baseballs. And the requisite beer bath mixed with shaving cream.
“It was a little cold, but it was awesome,” he said with a smile. “Anytime we’re celebrating something like that, it’s amazing.”
Allen’s performance came in front of his parents, brother, girlfriend, agent and other family members. He admitted he had trouble sleeping Saturday night.
“There was definitely a lot of nerves going into the game, but once I got to the bullpen and started throwing it felt normal,” Allen said. “I took it all in and appreciated what it was.”
Called up from Triple-A Columbus before the game, the 24-year-old gave up a two-out homer to Jon Berti in the third. Otherwise, he allowed five hits and walked one, and finished with a flourish by striking out three around a one-out walk in the sixth.
Allen pounded his fist into his glove after Avisail Garcia took a called strike three to end the inning. Allen received a loud ovation as he walked off the field and was greeted by his teammates when he reached the dugout.
He’s the third rookie to start a game for the Guardians, whose rotation is missing the injured Triston McKenzie and Aaron Civale.
“He had poise,” Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. “He threw three pitches. He attacked. He did really well.”
Allen was Cleveland’s second-round pick in the 2020 amateur draft. The left-hander has allowed two earned runs and struck out 20 over 14⅓ innings in three starts at Triple-A Columbus this season. Allen is 18-7 over parts of three minor league seasons.
He is ranked as the No. 53 overall prospect by ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel.
Injuries have tested Cleveland’s rotation depth in the season’s first month. McKenzie (strained right teres major muscle) was injured in his final start of spring training and will likely miss at least another month. Civale (strained left oblique) went on the 15-day injured list after making two starts.
The Guardians optioned infielder Tyler Freeman to Columbus, and catcher Bryan Lavastida was designated for assignment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Source: www.espn.com