CHICAGO — David Fry did a little bit of everything for the Guardians in Friday’s 10-1 series-opening loss to the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
The rookie made his first big league start in left field, where he turned in a sensational sliding catch before slamming into the wall down the left field foul line to end the second inning.
“There’s not a lot of foul territory over there,” Fry said. “A bunch of the guys told me that before the game, and one of our trainers told me to make sure it’s there, don’t be running into it. And of course, that’s what I did.”
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Later, he made a nice backpedaling grab in front of the ivy-covered left field wall, and showed a strong throwing arm when he fired home to hold a runner at third base.
In the fifth, Fry delivered the first of Cleveland’s five hits and drew a walk in the seventh. But facing a nine-run deficit, manager Terry Francona called upon Fry to give him an inning on the mound in the eighth to preserve his already weary bullpen.
It was an opportunity Fry attacked with typical aplomb.
In his first professional pitching appearance, Fry said he entered the eighth with one goal in mind: to throw as slow as he could and get the ball in the strike zone.
Fry, who said he had not pitched since his college days at Northwestern State, averaged 53 mph on his fastball. His tosses were so slow that Statcast categorized them as sliders, but the right-hander assured reporters after the game that was not the case.
“The scoreboard said sliders, but yeah, no,” Fry said. “I was throwing really, really slow.”
Fry was efficient, retiring the side on eight pitches, and even recorded an out at first base when he covered the bag on a ground ball to Josh Bell off the bat of Mike Tauchman. He needed just one pitch to put away Nico Hoerner on a ground out to third, and battled Christopher Morel for four pitches before the Cubs slugger flew out to Tyler Freeman on the left field warning track.
The Texas native said despite his successful outing, he’s satisfied with leaving just one inning on his resume. Fry said Francona’s willingness to find ways to get him in the lineup has been encouraging.
“I just try to do whatever I can to help the team win and it’s been all over the place, but that’s kind of part of it and I like it and love being able to get in there,” Fry said.
Francona said the idea was to have Fry pitch as quick and painless an inning as possible.
“He did a good job and played a good left field and got a hit,” Francona said. “He’s becoming valuable as we had hoped, and good for him. He deserves it.”
The key is being ready at any position and preparing every day. It’s a role Fry says he has embraced with a good attitude.
“The staff does a good job of getting us prepared at all the different positions and getting us work all over the place,” Fry said. “When you go in the outfield, it helps that you’ve got Straw in center, a Gold Glover helping you out. But yeah, I have a lot of faith and just go out there and have fun.”
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