Guardians Spark Late Rally with Three Home Runs to Stun Tigers

It felt as bleak as possible for the Cleveland Guardians.

Through 7.5 innings of baseball, the Guardians had only managed to push one runner to second base, and that was off a solo home run from George Valera 6 innings prior. The bullpen was running on fumes with Cade Smith needing to come in at the top of the 9th, and manage to pull another rabbit out of his hat, and keep the game gridlocked at 1 run apiece.

Most importantly, how much longer could you keep this Detroit offense at bay? Their bullpen was cruising through this since pulling Casey Mize, and the bats had stranded 12 base runners up until that point. Cleveland had to get something done in the 8th — and that they did.

Playoff Rocchio, Rocctober, or whatever you want to call him, plunked a one-out solo shot over the right field wall, and that opened the floodgates. Steven Kwan and Daniel Schneeman went back-to-back with doubles to extend the lead to two, and after an intentional walk to Jose Ramirez, Bo Naylor provided some much-needed breathing room with a three-run bomb, capping off a five-run 8th.

A three-home run day was precisely what this Guardians offense needed, and it stems from playing your best bats. George Valera had a solo home run, Bo Naylor had a three-run home run, Chase DeLauter had two huge walks and the hardest hit ball of the day, and CJ Kayfus added a hit as well.

When your platoon options are sub-.600 OPS bats, there’s no advantage to handiness. Outside of maybe Angel Martinez and Daniel Schneeman subbing in for Gabriel Arias, this is your best offensive lineup. If you want any chance of winning this series, you need these 9-10 guys out there every single day.

In his first taste of major league action, DeLauter put up three at-bats that were better than anything we’ve seen from Jhonkensey Noel this season. It’s impossible to hate Big Christmas after last postseason, but he has no business seeing the field the rest of the playoffs.

The momentum has swung back in Cleveland’s favor, but it’s still majorly uphill from here. You’re going to need to find a way to have Slade Cecconni and Joey Cantillo eat up innings in this game. Cade Smith could be unavailable tomorrow, so the rest of the pitching staff will have to pick him up. Then again, the dude is a Cyborg, and Stephen Vogt might just ride him until his arm falls off.

This game is more than a normal win-or-go-home for Cleveland. You made the 15.5 game comeback. Don’t let it be for nothing.