CLEVELAND -- Standing on first base on Saturday, Cooper Ingle faced the Guardians’ third-base dugout and emphatically clapped his hands. The 24-year-old gave a double thumbs-up, as chants of “Coooooop” began to echo across Progressive Field.
Ingle recorded his first career hit and RBI in the fourth inning, knocking a two-run single off right-hander Logan Gilbert. It was part of a key three-run frame for the Guardians, who held on to beat the Mariners, 4-3.
Ingle (who’s ranked as the Guardians’ No. 3 prospect and No. 68 overall by MLB Pipeline) made his big league debut on Friday, after Cleveland selected him from Triple-A Columbus. Cleveland hoped his callup would serve as a potential boost for a club scuffling at the plate in June.
The Guardians entered Saturday tied with the Braves for last in MLB in runs scored (72) this month. They’ve spent the past two weeks without José Ramírez, Chase DeLauter and Angel Martínez, each of whom is on the injured list and whose absences have prompted a bit of a youth movement in Cleveland.
Saturday’s Guardians lineup included four rookies in Ingle, Travis Bazzana, Kahlil Watson (their No. 12 prospect) and Petey Halpin. All four players each made their big league debut this season, and each was at the center of Saturday's win.
Bazzana went 2-for-4 with two singles and two runs scored out of the No. 2 spot of the lineup. Watson hit fifth and went 1-for-3 with an RBI double. He has now logged at least one hit and one RBI in five consecutive games.
Ingle finished 1-for-3. The early run support came amid a stellar start by Slade Cecconi, who threw six-plus scoreless innings in which he allowed three hits and two walks with four strikeouts on 87 pitches.