Jose Ramirez picked the perfect moment to get rolling, and Joey Cantillo picked the perfect moment to take over.
That combination carried the Cleveland Guardians to a 5-3 win over the Athletics on Friday night at Progressive Field, a comeback victory built on two big home runs, a steady bullpen finish, and a six-inning rescue job from Cantillo after the game started in ugly fashion. Cleveland moved to 79-75 with the win and stayed level with the Chicago White Sox at the top of the AL Central.
The night belonged to Ramirez in more ways than one. His solo homer in the sixth inning was the 1000th RBI of his career, and it also gave Cleveland a two-run cushion it would never surrender. Ramirez finished 2-for-5 with a run scored, two RBI and a stolen base, another reminder that he is heating up at exactly the right time for a club that keeps leaning on him.
Travis Bazzana gave the Guardians their first lead of the night before Ramirez delivered the final punch. Bazzana stayed hot with a solo shot in the fifth, pushing Cleveland in front for the first time after the early deficit.
But the game nearly got away from the Guardians before any of that mattered. Daniel Espino, working as the opener, walked two of the first three hitters he saw and then gave up a three-run homer to Zack Gelof in the opening inning, putting Cleveland in a 3-0 hole right away.
From there, though, the Guardians kept clawing.
They finally broke through in the fourth, starting with back-to-back singles from Patrick Bailey and Petey Halpin. Brayan Rocchio followed with a two-run double to trim the margin to one, and after Steven Kwan struck out, Ramirez tied it with a single that scored Rocchio and made it 3-3.
That set the stage for Cantillo, who was outstanding after taking over in relief. He threw six scoreless innings, allowed just two hits and one walk, and struck out five while lowering his ERA to 3.74. It was his best outing of the season, and it came in a game Cleveland badly needed.
Hunter Gaddis handled the eighth with a perfect inning for his 30th hold, and Cade Smith closed it out in the ninth for his 38th save.
Rocchio also had a strong night, finishing 2-for-3 with a run scored, two RBI, a walk and a steal. Bazzana added his homer, and Cleveland’s bullpen made the lead stand up after the early damage.
The series continues Saturday at Progressive Field, with first pitch set for 6:10 pm ET. Jacob Lopez is scheduled to start for the Athletics, while Tanner Bibee gets the ball for Cleveland.
In Other News...
Guardians Suddenly Have A George Valera Decision To Make
George Valeras season has turned into a study in patience for the Guardians. The outfielder opened 2026 on the injured list with a calf injury, then was optioned to Triple-A after a slow start in the majors, leaving him to rebuild his case the old-fashioned way. Since late July, he has done exactly that, putting together a strong stretch at the plate in the minors and keeping his name in the conversation even as the big-league roster moved on without him.
The recent surge has pushed a real decision onto Clevelands front office and player development group. Some observers are already talking about a possible return to the major league roster, and the question is not just when Valera might get another look, but how the Guardians handle the 40-man roster if they want to make room. For a player who has answered with production after a rocky start, the next move now feels like it could say as much about the organizations timeline as it does about Valeras future. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Bullpen Depth Tested Again As Colin Holderman Hits Another Snag
Colin Holdermans return from the injured list has run into another detour, with the right-hander pulled from his latest rehab appearance because of wrist discomfort. The Guardians are still trying to sort out what comes next for the pitcher, who has been sidelined since Sept. 4 with wrist inflammation, and his status only adds to a bullpen picture that has already been asked to absorb plenty of uncertainty.
Holderman had been pitching well before the injury, but his season has not been as steady since midseason, when the wrist issue may have started to show up in his performance. For Cleveland, the concern is not just about one rehab outing going sideways, but about how much longer they may have to wait before getting a clearer read on whether he can help down the stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Jose Ramirez Just Strengthened His Place In Cleveland History
Jos Ramrez keeps adding lines to a Cleveland resume that already feels like it belongs in a different era. In a go-ahead swing against the Athletics, he became just the second player in franchise history to reach 1,000 career RBIs, and the homer also moved him into a tie with Rickey Henderson on the all-time home run list. It was the kind of moment that fits the way Ramrez has carried this offense for years, only now it comes with another milestone attached.
What makes it stand out even more is the timing. Ramrez reached the mark not long after returning from surgery on his left hand, a reminder that he is still finding his footing while continuing to climb the organizations record book. For Cleveland, the bigger picture is starting to come into focus around a player who has already become one of the most important names in franchise history, with plenty of season still left for the next chapter. [Read more 🡒]