CLEVELAND, Ohio — David Fry began Tuesday’s game in right field for the Guardians and ended it rounding first base with a finger pointed toward the sky after his RBI single in the 10th inning lifted Cleveland to a 6-5 comeback win against the Braves at Progressive Field.
In between, Fry moved behind the plate and was on the receiving end of a game-saving play that showed why the Guards place a high value on the rookie’s versatility and his ability to handle multiple roles on manager Terry Francona’s roster.
With the score tied in the 10th, Atlanta’s Eddie Rosario sent a fly ball to Myles Straw in center. Fry took Straw’s throw to the plate and tagged out a diving Sam Hilliard for the third out of the inning, keeping the Braves off the scoreboard and giving Cleveland a chance to win the game.
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With two out in the bottom of the 10th, Fry delivered an RBI single to left off Atlanta closer Raisel Iglesias for his first career walk-off plate appearance, and the Guards’ fifth walk-off win of 2023.
Fry, who has appeared at every defensive position for Cleveland except shortstop, second base and center field, said as the play at the plate developed, his key was to make sure he kept his left foot in fair territory so that he did not violate Major League Baseball’s rule on giving base runners an open lane to slide into the plate.
“The last thing you want to do is have a guy thrown out and then it gets overturned because of a violation or whatever,” Fry said. “You’re watching (Straw’s) throw come in, you’re trying to let it get to you and not be too eager to go out and get it. But Straw kind of put it on the money, made it easy for me.”
Straw said Fry made a great play on a throw that was slightly to the right of the plate.
“He put his body on the line and dove, that’s what ballplayers do,” Straw said. “To see De Los Santos and Fry fired up after that, I mean that was huge, especially for Fry, to win the game for us.”
Atlanta, with nothing to lose, challenged the call, but replay officials in New York confirmed that Fry had made the right play. Francona said it is easy to lose perspective on all that needs to take place for that play to be successful.
“I don’t know if people probably have a true respect for just how much is going on in a guy’s head, or can go on when it’s happening that fast,” Francona said. “That was an unbelievable play all the way around.”
Francona said he knows the club asks a lot of Fry on a night where he played both right field and catcher.
“He’s more valuable maybe than other people realize,” Francona said. “We feel like he’s real valuable. There’s days when he doesn’t play, but because of his versatility, you can do things with other people too, and that’ll never show, but it has value.”
Fry became the third player in franchise history to play both right field and catcher in the same game, joining Ron Pruitt in (last done in 1979) and Ted Easterly (1910). According to Elias Sports Bureau, Fry is the first MLB player to appear in right field and at catcher and have a walk-off plate appearance since Gary Carter did so for the Expos in 1975.
Straw said Fry’s ability to move around the lineup allows players like Steven Kwan to get a day off when they are banged up. That kind of versatility can keep a player around for a long time, especially if he continues to put up quality at-bats.
“He takes really good swings and that’s all you can ask for a guy like that,” Straw said, “He’s been super valuable for us.”
Fry added a base hit in the eighth inning, giving him a hit in four of his last six starts. Off the bat, Fry thought his game-winner in the 10th was a hit without a doubt. Then he saw Rosario start running after it.
“I was like, ‘Oh God, he’s going to catch this thing,’” Fry said. “I had my hand in the air, I was like, I need to put my hand down because he is about to catch it. But yeah, when I saw the land, I was pretty fired up.”
Fry said Cleveland’s ability to fight back showed a lot about the team’s character.
“We’ve got a complete team in there,” Fry said. “Whenever we’re down we still feel like we’ve got a good chance to win.”
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