CLEVELAND -- On July 4, after the Guardians lost for the eighth time during their 10-game skid, players lingered in the dugout at Progressive Field and stared out at the scene of the Tigers’ celebratory handshake line.

The Guardians’ season had hit a new low point, but Slade Cecconi declared that they could channel the tough times into something great.

“I'm really looking forward to the end of the season when we look back at this eight-game skid and go, ‘Man, remember, remember how tough that was?’” Cecconi said that night. “‘Remember how we got through it? Remember how we trusted each other? Remember how we showed up the same every day and just kept working?’

“It's going to pay off. We're going to see ourselves in a great spot at the end of the season. I fully believe that.”

All they

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