Standing on first base on Saturday, Cooper Ingle faced the Guardians’ third-base dugout and emphatically clapped his hands. The 24-year-old gave a double thumbs-up, as chants of “Coooooop” began to echo across Progressive Field. Ingle recorded his first career hit and RBI in the fourth inning, knocking a two-run single off right-hander Logan Gilbert. It was part of a key three-run frame for the Guardians, who held on to beat the Mariners, 4-3. “The swing was the swing and I happened to find a hole,” Ingle said. “I kind of just blacked out, but in my brain I knew it was a hit, I guess, and mentally freaked out. I was pumped and excited to get that first one.” Ingle (who’s ranked as the Guardians’ No. 3 prospect and No. 68 overall by MLB Pipeline) made his big league debut on Friday, after Cleveland selected him from Triple-A Columbus. Cleveland hoped his callup would serve as a potential boost for a club scuffling at the plate in June. The Guardians entered Saturday tied with the Braves for last in MLB in runs scored (72) this month. They’ve spent the past two weeks without José Ramírez, Chase DeLauter and Angel Martínez, each of whom is on the injured list and whose absences have prompted a bit of a youth movement in Cleveland. Saturday’s Guardians lineup included four rookies in Ingle, Travis Bazzana, Kahlil Watson (their No. 12 prospect) and Petey Halpin, all of whom are 23 or 24 years old. Starter Slade Cecconi (who’s the ripe young age of 27) joked how he feels old being inside Cleveland’s clubhouse these days.
