The Cleveland Guardians doubled down on drama Friday night and still found a way to leave Progressive Field with another walk-off win.
After finishing off the Tigers with a late rally in the opener, Cleveland came back in the nightcap and erased a 3-0 deficit to beat Detroit 4-3. The victory pushed the Guardians to 72-70 and turned Travis Bazzana into the headline act again.
Bazzana, pinch-hitting for Chase DeLauter in the sixth inning, delivered the swing that changed everything in the eighth. Steven Kwan opened the frame with a walk, and Bazzana followed by launching a game-tying two-run homer. Then, in the 10th, he did it again - this time with a walk-off single that scored Brayan Rocchio, who had stolen both second and third base to set up the winning run.
Bazzana finished 2-for-3 with a homer, a run and three RBI, and his night carried the kind of timing that keeps the Guardians in the game no matter how deep the hole gets.
Detroit had built its lead early against Foster Griffin, who was steady but took the loss despite a quality start. He worked six innings, gave up three runs on eight hits and two walks, and struck out three.
The Tigers got on the board in the third when Hao-Yu Lee singled in Zach McKinstry. A few plays later, Kevin McGonigle doubled home Gleyber Torres for a 2-0 lead. Torres scored again in the fifth on Eduardo Valencia’s RBI single to make it 3-0.
Cleveland finally broke through in the sixth. Nathaniel Lowe doubled to bring in José Ramírez and get the Guardians on the board.
From there, the bullpen kept the game within reach. Daniel Espino, called up before the game, made a successful return to the majors with two scoreless innings after Griffin. Hunter Gaddis matched him with two more shutout frames, giving Cleveland a chance to keep pressing late.
The Guardians also had to navigate a couple of injuries. Angel Martinez was pulled for precautionary reasons after bruising his left shoulder in a collision with Brayan Rocchio, and rookie slugger Chase DeLauter left in the sixth inning with a wrist issue.
For now, though, the night belonged to Cleveland’s comeback streak and to Bazzana, who kept the pressure on Detroit until the Tigers finally cracked.
The series continues Saturday at Progressive Field at 6:10 pm ET, with left-handers Parker Messick and Framber Valdez set to start.
In Other News...
Guardians Suddenly Have A Postseason Problem They Never Expected From Bibee
Tanner Bibees recent start in Toronto only added to the uneasy feeling around Clevelands rotation at the exact moment the Guardians can least afford it. In a 6-3 loss to the Blue Jays, Bibee gave up five runs in four innings, another reminder that the clubs most important stretch run is being complicated by a pitcher who entered the game as one of the biggest questions on the staff.
Cleveland is still clinging to a half-game lead for the American Leagues final Wild Card spot at 70-70, but the margin for error is thin and the pitching picture is getting harder to trust. Bibee has been inconsistent enough to lead the majors in losses, and if the Guardians are going to make this race hold, they need a lot more certainty from a starter they expected to lean on when the games start to matter most. [Read more 🡒]
Former Guardians Could Haunt Cleveland Fans All Through September
September has a way of turning old acquaintances into uncomfortable reminders, and that figure is likely to be a recurring theme for Cleveland fans as the season closes. Several former Guardians hitters are positioned for meaningful roles with new clubs down the stretch, giving them a chance to matter in the pennant race and, if their teams keep going, in October as well. Bo Naylor is with the Milwaukee Brewers, Josh Naylor has landed with the Seattle Mariners, Richie Palacios is part of the Tampa Bay Rays mix, Amed Rosario is now in the New York Yankees orbit, and Lane Thomas is with the Atlanta Braves.
For Cleveland, the challenge is not just seeing familiar faces on other rosters, but seeing them in spots where their current teams can lean on them. Each one brings a different kind of value and a different level of postseason relevance, which makes the next month feel a little like a reunion tour with real stakes attached. The Guardians are trying to finish their own season on their terms, but these ex-Guardians could keep showing up in moments that matter for someone else. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Suddenly Face A Bullpen Question Before A Crucial Doubleheader
Carlos Hernndez had been giving the Guardians a look out of the bullpen, working two relief appearances and striking out multiple batters while operating in low-leverage spots. Even so, Cleveland moved him off the roster to create space for pitching prospect Austin Peterson ahead of a doubleheader, a reminder of how quickly a club can shift its pitching picture when the schedule tightens.
The move leaves Hernndez in limbo as the Guardians wait to see whether he clears waivers and stays in the organization. For a team trying to manage arms around a crucial doubleheader, it is another small but potentially meaningful bullpen wrinkle, especially with a call-up in Peterson now taking priority over a veteran reliever who had just started to settle in. [Read more 🡒]