The Cleveland Guardians kept the momentum rolling against Minnesota, backing up their big offensive night with another win in Game 2 of the four-game set.
Parker Messick set the tone early and then settled in after a rocky first inning. Ryan Jeffers got to him with a home run, and Josh Bell scored on a fielding error, but those were the only real cracks in Messick’s outing. The left-hander worked 5.2 innings and allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits while striking out six and issuing no walks.
Cleveland didn’t need another seven-homer barrage to get the job done. The offense found enough timely swings behind the pitching staff, starting in the bottom of the third.
Austin Hedges opened the frame with a walk, Petey Halpin moved him over with a sacrifice bunt, and Steven Kwan doubled to center to bring Hedges home and tie the game. After a pitching change, Brayan Rocchio followed with a single that gave the Guardians the lead.
Minnesota briefly pushed back, but Cleveland answered again in the sixth. Kahlil Watson led off with his sixth double of the season, Travis Bazzana was hit by a pitch, and Gabriel Arias singled to center to load the bases.
Hedges then lifted a sacrifice fly to score Watson and put Cleveland back in front. Bazzana and Arias followed with a successful double steal, and Bazzana just beat the tag at third.
Petey Halpin added another sacrifice fly with one out, and Byron Buxton delivered a strong throw to the plate that initially got Bazzana called out. Cleveland challenged the play, and the video showed Bazzana got a hand in before the tag, turning the call into a safe ruling and giving the Guardians an insurance run.
The bullpen handled the rest. Shawn Armstrong allowed two hits while recording two outs before handing things over to Hunter Gaddis, who was sharp in 1.1 innings.
Chase DeLauter singled to right in the seventh, but Kyle Manzardo followed with a force out. Then, with two outs, Travis Bazzana lifted a fly ball to left that scored Manzardo.
Cade Smith finished it off in the ninth for his 29th save of the season. He worked a clean 1-2-3 inning with a flyout, a strikeout, and a standout catch from Kahlil Watson to seal the win over the Twins.
In Other News...
Former Guardians Ace Carlos Carrasco Enters A Surprising New Career Chapter
Carlos Carrascos next stop comes after a strange stretch with the Braves, where the veteran right-hander kept bouncing between the major league roster and minor league deals while trying to stick. He logged 16 2/3 innings in Atlanta this season and also pitched well at Triple-A Gwinnett, but the constant churn left him looking for a cleaner path forward than the one he had been navigating for months.
For Cleveland fans, Carrascos latest move is another reminder of how long his career has lasted and how many turns it has taken since his peak years in the majors. He now lands in a spot where roster rules matter as much as reputation, and his new club is making room for him after moving on from Yacksel Ros. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Fans Wont Like Whats Next For Khalil Watson
Khalil Watsons latest stint with Cleveland had the look of a player trying to force a longer stay, especially after a strong recent game gave the Guardians another reminder of what he can bring. Even so, the roster math has been working against him, and the club had to clear space for players coming off the injured list while navigating the limits that come with his option status.
For the Guardians, it is the kind of transaction that can feel more procedural than personal, even when a young player has done enough to make the decision uncomfortable. Watson has still shown enough in this stretch to matter to the organization, and the timing suggests this is more of a pause than a goodbye, with a bigger opportunity likely to come when rosters expand later in the season. [Read more 🡒]
Jos Ramrez Is Back But Cleveland's Lineup Questions Aren't Gone
Jos Ramrez is back in the Guardians lineup picture after being activated from the injured list before Wednesdays game, a welcome development for a club that has spent much of the summer trying to patch together its everyday order. Ramrez had been out since June 13 with a hamate bone fracture, and his return comes without a rehab assignment, a reminder of how quickly Cleveland needs its best bat back in the middle of things.
The broader roster puzzle, though, is still very much in motion. Angel Martnez is moving along on a rehab assignment as he works back from a foot fracture, giving Cleveland another potential option to monitor in the coming days as the lineup keeps shifting around injuries and availability. For now, the Guardians at least get Ramrez back, but the ripple effects of getting everyone healthy again are still only beginning to sort themselves out. [Read more 🡒]