Rockies score four runs in 9th to top Guardians

Tyler Freeman had three RBIs against his former team and Hunter Goodman homered and drove in two runs over the last two innings, giving the visiting Colorado Rockies a wild 8-6 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Monday night.

Colorado rookie Warming Bernabel homered for the second game in a row. The Rockies scored four times in the ninth to erase a 5-4 deficit against Cade Smith (2-4), who retired one batter and gave up four runs, one earned.

Bernabel also scored the tying run, thanks to a ninth-inning throwing error by Smith on Brenton Doyle's attempted sacrifice bunt with no outs. After Smith was pulled, Mickey Moniak tacked on a sacrifice fly against Tim Herrin and Goodman hit an RBI double.

Tyler Kinley (1-3) was the winner, and Seth Halvorsen gave up Nolan Jones' RBI single in the bottom of the ninth but still earned his 11th save. Colorado used five pitchers, beginning with Bradley Blalock, who threw six shutout frames.

Smith was closing because Emmanuel Clase was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave by Major League Baseball amid a gambling investigation. Guardians starter Luis Ortiz was previously taken off their roster for the same reason.

Cleveland had scored five times in the seventh to go in front 5-3. Bo Naylor's three-run, pinch-hit homer off Jake Bird was the equalizer, and Carlos Santana subsequently drew a bases-loaded walk and Daniel Schneemann had an RBI single.

Blalock struck out a career-high seven in his longest outing in the majors. The right-hander scattered six hits without issuing a walk but was denied a second win in a row by his bullpen.

Guardians starter Slade Cecconi gave up three runs on six hits in seven innings. The right-hander struck out three and walked two, leaving with a 5-3 lead.

Santana, a prime trade candidate, stepped on the foot of Orlando Arcia while tagging him out near home plate in the fifth. Santana was examined by a trainer but remained in the game.

The first pitch was delayed by 2 hours, 30 minutes because of steady rain.

--Field Level Media