Guardians notes: Catcher Austin Hedges fined for criticizing umpires and replay officials

CLEVELAND — Catcher Austin Hedges was fined an undisclosed amount for criticizing umpires and replay officials after a loss to the Tigers at Progressive Field on Tuesday. Hedges had the official notice from MLB posted on his locker in the Guardians' clubhouse prior to the postponed series finale against the White Sox on Sunday, but declined to comment. Hedges was left fuming after he tagged out Detroit's Javy Baez to end the first inning, but the call was overturned when it was ruled that he blocked the plate on a play that loomed large in a 4-3 loss. The rule has rarely been used, but MLB has begun cracking down for player safety, enforcing it eight times this year — the most since it was introduced for the 2014 season. On another note, Hedges was set to miss his second straight game Sunday after leaving Friday's series opener against the White Sox with a right ankle sprain. Manager Terry Francona said Hedges was available off the bench Saturday night and expected him to be in the lineup Sunday if Hedges felt good enough to play. Back-end boost Right-handers James Karinchak and Nick Sandlin and left-hander Sam Hentges entered Sunday owning three of the four longest active scoreless innings streaks in the American League. Karinchak had the longest at 17 innings through Saturday, while Hentges owned the second-longest at 13 and Sandlin the fourth at 12 — ⅓ of an inning behind Tampa Bay's Jason Adam. Meanwhile, closer Emmanuel Clase entered Sunday tied with Chicago's Liam Hendriks for the most saves (28) in the AL. Since May 20, Clase (2-2, 1.22 ERA) has posted a 0.48 ERA, striking out 41 batters and walking three over 37⅓ innings. Overall, Cleveland's bullpen owned the lowest ERA (2.01) in the majors since July 14 through Saturday. Next up After an off day Monday, the Guardians hit the road for a West Coast swing, playing two interleague games in San Diego on Tuesday and Wednesday before a four-game series in Seattle on Thursday through Sunday. Right-handed pitcher Aaron Civale (2-5, 5.63 ERA) is the scheduled starter in the series opener against the Padres (9:40 p.m.), opposing right-hander and former teammate Mike Clevinger (4-4, 3.63). Right-hander Cal Quantrill (9-5, 3.77) goes for Cleveland in the series finale Wednesday (4:10 p.m.), while the Padres counter with right-hander Yu Darvish (10-7, 3.39). Roundin' third Center fielder Myles Straw entered Sunday with the most assists in the majors at 12 — two more than anyone else in the big leagues. But offensively, it's been a mighty struggle for Straw, who owns a .202 batting average and .536 OPS over 114 games. ** Tuesday, BSGL; WEOL 930-AM and 100.3-FM, WTAM 1100-AM, WMMS 100.7-FM. Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him @CAwesomeheimer on Twitter.