In a thrilling game, the Cleveland Guardians emerged victorious with a 5-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night. The Guardians scored three runs in the eighth inning to secure their victory.
The go-ahead run came from Ramón Laureano, who drew a bases-loaded walk off Jacob Webb in the eighth inning. This run proved to be crucial for the Guardians’ victory.
The Orioles fought hard to stay in the game, scoring two runs in the top of the eighth to tie the game. However, the Guardians responded immediately with their three-run rally in the bottom of the eighth. Bo Naylor’s run-scoring single and Gabriel Arias’ RBI grounder added to the lead after Laureano’s walk.
Baltimore, who is heading to the postseason for the first time since 2016, still holds a 1 1/2-game lead over Tampa Bay in the division and for the best record in the AL.
Trevor Stephan earned the win for the Guardians, while Emmanuel Clase secured his 42nd save of the season. The Guardians currently trail the first-place Minnesota Twins by 8 1/2 games in the AL Central.
The Orioles had a strong performance from rookie Grayson Rodriguez, who worked five innings and struck out seven while giving up two runs. However, it wasn’t enough to secure the win.
Hunter Gaddis started for the Guardians and only allowed one hit in three innings. He was briefly injured but continued to play. Baltimore’s Brandon Hyde managed his 700th career game, with the majority of them being with the Orioles.
In other news, Brandon Hyde confirmed that RHP Tyler Wells could be an option for the Orioles down the stretch. Wells has pitched in the minor leagues and has a 5.52 ERA without a decision in 10 games.
Looking ahead, the Guardians will activate RHP Shane Bieber from the IL to face off against Orioles RHP Dean Kremer in their next game. Bieber, the 2020 AL Cy Young winner, last pitched for Cleveland on July 9 before the All-Star break.
That wraps up the exciting game between the Guardians and the Orioles. Stay tuned for more updates on the teams’ performances.
