**Cade Smith’s Close Call: A Scary Moment on the Baseball Field**
**Meta Description:** Cleveland Guardians pitcher Cade Smith narrowly escaped injury when a line drive from Rowdy Tellez struck his cap during a game against the Mariners.
**URL Slug:** cade-smith-close-call-baseball
In a tense moment during a recent game, Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Cade Smith found himself just inches away from a potentially serious injury. The incident occurred in the bottom of the fifth inning during a tightly contested 2-2 matchup against the Seattle Mariners. As Rowdy Tellez stepped up to the plate, Smith delivered an 88 mph breaking ball that landed in the lower strike zone. Tellez, known for his powerful hitting, made solid contact, sending a line drive rocketing back toward the mound at an impressive 106.6 mph.
With little time to react, the ball struck the brim of Smith’s cap, allowing him to narrowly avoid a serious injury. The impact caused the ball to deflect into the outfield, enabling Tellez to reach second base with a double. Remarkably, Smith remained unfazed by the close call and went on to strike out the next batter, effectively ending the inning.
Despite Smith’s resilience, the Mariners capitalized on their momentum, scoring four runs in the seventh inning and ultimately securing a 7-2 victory over the Guardians. Earlier in the game, Tellez had already showcased his power by hitting a home run with an exit velocity of 107.3 mph. His average exit velocity of 91.3 mph places him in the 80th percentile among qualified hitters.
With this loss, the Guardians’ record fell to 35-33, a disappointing outcome considering their recent AL Central title. They now find themselves 9.5 games behind the Detroit Tigers. Meanwhile, the Mariners are 4.5 games back of the Houston Astros in the AL West, holding a record of 34-34.
As the season progresses, both teams will be looking to improve their standings and make a push for the playoffs.
**FAQ**
**What happened to Cade Smith during the game?**
Cade Smith narrowly avoided injury when a line drive from Rowdy Tellez hit the brim of his cap during a game against the Seattle Mariners.
