Cleveland salvaged a split of Saturday’s doubleheader against the Pirates the hard way, erasing a 3-0 deficit over the final two innings of the nightcap before Travis Bazzana ended it with a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth — a 5-3 win that keeps the Guardians in a virtual tie atop the AL Central.
For seven innings, game two looked like a repeat of game one. Pittsburgh’s Khristian Curtis held Cleveland scoreless over five, and the Guardians’ hitters had little to show for their 11 hits until the eighth, when three runs off relievers Brandon Eisert and Gregory Soto tied it. In the ninth, Steven Kwan — who had three of those hits — reached against Dennis Santana, and Bazzana followed one out later with a 414-foot drive to right-center, per the Associated Press game story. It was the first career walk-off hit for the rookie second baseman, an All-Star who now has eight home runs on the season. Cade Smith (3-1) struck out two in a clean ninth for the win.
The rally papered over a rough opener. Pittsburgh took game one 7-1 behind Jared Jones’ nine strikeouts, and Gavin Williams took the loss despite striking out 11 — he gave up five runs on seven hits over six innings, including homers by Jacob Gonzalez, Esmerlyn Valdez and Nick Gonzales. The difference between the two games was the late-inning execution: in the nightcap, six Cleveland relievers combined for 5.2 scoreless innings behind bulk man Logan Allen, and the offense finally cashed in its baserunners.
The split, paired with Chicago’s 1-0 loss in Toronto, leaves the standings about as tight as they can get: the White Sox sit at 51-46 and the Guardians at 52-47, a gap of one point of winning percentage. Cleveland gets the rubber game against Pittsburgh on Sunday before the schedule turns back to division play.
For fantasy purposes, Bazzana is the add here. He is playing every day, hitting for more power as the season goes on, and second base remains a thin position in most leagues. Cade Smith’s win underlines his value in the ninth inning for a contending club — he remains a top-tier stash wherever saves are scarce.
