Aiming for wild-card catch-up, Guardians enter key series vs. M's

It's now or never for the Cleveland Guardians, who host the Seattle Mariners in a three-game series beginning Friday.

Seattle has taken control of the final American League wild-card position, owning a three-game lead over the Kansas City Royals, a 4 1/2-game advantage over the Texas Rangers and a five-game lead over Cleveland.

Guardians left-hander Logan Allen (7-10, 4.35 ERA) faces Mariners right-hander George Kirby (8-6, 4.05 ERA) in the opener Friday, as Cleveland hopes to build on the momentum it gained with back-to-back victories over the Tampa Bay Rays.

"It's going to propel us forward and inject a lot of energy and confidence into this clubhouse," Guardians pitcher Slade Cecconi said. "Winning a series and a game against a really good bullpen like that, coming from behind means a lot."

Kyle Manzardo singled home the game-winning run in the 10th inning Wednesday, one frame after Nolan Jones' tying homer off Rays closer Pete Fairbanks, as Cleveland pulled out a 4-3 victory. It was Jones' fourth home run in 298 at-bats this season.

"I couldn't be happier for Nolan," Manzardo said. "That one has been a long time coming, and I've got to imagine there ain't many things that felt better than that one for him."

Allen was rocked for a season-high nine runs in five innings of a 10-0 loss at the Rangers on Saturday. He is on a four-start winless streak, going 0-1 with a 5.95 ERA since beating the Colorado Rockies on July 29.

In three seasons in the majors, Allen has pitched against Seattle twice, winning both starts with a 2.13 ERA over 12 2/3 innings.

The Mariners wrapped up a 4-2 homestand Wednesday, winning two of their three games against both the Athletics and San Diego Padres. Trade-deadline acquisition and All-Star third baseman Eugenio Suarez had three-run homers in the final two games.

All-Star catcher Cal Raleigh belted his 50th home run of the season in the opener of the San Diego series, but has just four hits in the last seven games. "Big Dumper" is batting .148 during the span with three home runs and a .233 on-base percentage.

Seattle plays its next nine on the road with visits to Cleveland, Tampa Bay and Atlanta. None of those teams have winning records.

"We've just got to go over there and try to play good baseball," said Suarez, who has a career-high-tying 104 RBIs. "It's not going to be the same because we don't have the fans in our favor, but we have to do the little things and try to win games."

Kirby took a non-decision Saturday against the Athletics, giving up one run in six innings. He is 7-2 with a 3.20 ERA over his last 10 outings, but those numbers were tainted by an Aug. 17 loss at the New York Mets where he allowed seven runs in 4 2/3 innings.

The Guardians are one of three AL teams that Kirby has not beaten, going 0-1 with a 6.11 ERA in four starts. He has a 2.00 ERA over nine innings in two games at Cleveland.

--Field Level Media