Guardians shrug off Pirates' comeback to claim win in 10th

Field Level Media|published: Sun 20th April, 17:02 2025

MLB: Cleveland Guardians at Pittsburgh Pirates

Apr 20, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) greets first baseman Kyle Manzardo (9) crossing home plate on a two run home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the seventh inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Kyle Manzardo went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer as well as the eventual game-winning RBI to lead the Cleveland Guardians to a 5-4 victory over the host Pittsburgh Pirates in 10 innings on Sunday afternoon.

The Guardians completed a three-game sweep and prevailed despite closer Emmanuel Clase (3-0) surrendering three runs in the bottom of the ninth for his second blown save of the season.

Jhonkensky Noel began the top of the 10th as the automatic runner for Cleveland and moved to third with one out on a ground out by Jose Ramirez. Manzardo then lifted a fly ball off Dennis Santana (0-1) deep enough to left to score Noel.

Joey Cantillo opened the bottom of the 10th by walking Joey Bart, but he induced a double-play grounder by Oneil Cruz. Valdez flew out to right to end the game as Cantillo picked up his first save of the season.

Adam Frazier's two-run double in the bottom of the ninth started Pittsburgh's comeback, scoring Valdez and Tommy Pham to cut its deficit to 4-3 with no outs. After Isiah Kiner-Falefa flied out to center, Frazier stole third. Ke'Bryan Hayes then tied the game with a single to right to score Frazier.

Bryan Reynolds, who went 3-for-5, singled when he lined a ball back to the mound off Clase, who remained in the game after being checked by Cleveland's trainer. Clase regrouped and ended the inning when Andrew McCutchen bounced into a 6-4-3 double play.

Steven Kwan opened the scoring with a two-run homer in the top of the third off Pirates starter Mitch Keller to put the Guardians ahead 2-0.

Pittsburgh broke a string of 14 scoreless innings in the bottom of the sixth when McCutchen lined a double down the left-field line off Guardians starter Logan Allen. That drove in Reynolds, who reached on a one-out single.

Allen allowed one run -- his first since his first start of the season April 1 -- while posting five hits, five strikeouts and one walk over 5 2/3 innings and 95 pitches.

Keller pitched five innings and gave up two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three on 101 pitches.

--Field Level Media

Latest