CLEVELAND -- A strange scene unfolded at Progressive Field in the sixth inning Sunday, when the Guardians and D-backs benches cleared and gathered around home plate as the Cleveland grounds crew pulled the tarp for a rain delay.
At the center of the scrum was Stephen Vogt. The Guardians’ manager was one of several Clevelanders who may have taken exception to a bunt attempt by D-backs center fielder Tim Tawa, which came as starter Gavin Williams had a budding perfect-game bid.
Williams was perfect entering the sixth inning after he retired the D-backs’ first 15 hitters, including nine on strikeouts. Tawa led off the sixth, and he fouled off a bunt attempt on an 0-1 offering from Williams.
Guardians catcher Patrick Bailey appeared to have some words for Tawa after the foul went back out of play. Tawa lined Williams’ next pitch to right field for a single to end the perfect-game bid.
Tawa was forced out at second base moments later on a fielder’s choice ground ball by Ildemaro Vargas. Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio (who threw his arms in the air in annoyance when Tawa fouled off the bunt attempt) had some words for Tawa at second base.
The game went into a rain delay after Williams struck out Tyler Locklear and walked Corbin Carroll. Vogt came out of the dugout looking clearly upset while gesturing to the D-backs' dugout, which cleared as the two clubs gathered around home plate.
All the while, the tarp covered the infield before meeting the scrum at home plate.
Perhaps adding to the Guardians' frustration is this isn’t the first time someone has bunted during Williams' attempt at a perfect game. Cleveland's right-hander had a perfect-game bid on July 9 against the Twins when Royce Lewis fouled off a bunt attempt with one out in the fifth. Lewis went on to end the bid with a single in the same at-bat.