Guardians walk it off to beat the Rays in extras

Photo by Charles Murray

Cleveland- The Guardians won the second game of the series against the Rays Saturday night. It took 11 innings to get the victory and there was an added spark to the team. The feeling in the ballpark was electric as Cleveland rallied several times in what was their sixth walk-off win of the season. This was the fourth win in a row for the Guards as they are trying to catch the Twins. Minnesota also won Saturday evening as Cleveland sits five games back.

Logan Allen was on the bump for the Guardians. He gave up a home run in the 1st inning. 8 of the 15 home runs that Allen has allowed this season have come in the 1st inning. Allen didn’t factor in Saturday’s game as Sam Hentges was the winning pitcher. Allen went five innings allowing seven hits and four runs while fanning five.

Gabriel Arias gave Cleveland the lead in the 4th with a 2-run homer. He extended his hit streak to five games. In a seven game stretch since August 24, Arias is hitting .355. After the game he spoke about what it meant to fight back to win the game saying, “It’s really important to get the energy from this game. Winning these types of games is going to remind us we have a chance to make it to the playoffs.”

Bo Naylor became the first Guardians hitter to tally an extra-base hit in six-straight since Owen Miller in April of 2022. Naylor is also the second-youngest Guardians hitter with an extra-base hit in 6-or-more consecutive starts, older than only Hal Trosky (1934, 9 games), who accomplished this feat at 21-years old.

Andres Gimenez drove in the first run of the game and also stole his 24th base of the season. His 44 stolen bases since 2022 rank 2nd among MLB second basemen behind Tommy Edman. Gimenez made a spectacular play at the plate at the top of the 10th to save a run.

Testing a Gold Glover? Okay.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/1hFLy2rMUg

— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) September 3, 2023

Steven Kwan came through with a 2-out game-tying single in the 9th. The left fielder then won the game with a walk-off sacrifice fly in the 11th marking his second career walk-off. Since debuting in 2022, Kwan ranks among MLB leadoff hitters in balls in play (184, 2nd), leadoff singles (44, 2nd) and leadoff hits (61, 4th). His 236 singles since last season rank 2nd in the majors behind Luis Arraez.

The “Guardiac Kids” were back and this win had the feeling of last season’s energy. Now is the time this team needs to regain that energy if they are going to the unthinkable and catch the Twins.