Guardians walk their way to 12-9 win over Royals, retain one-game lead in AL Central over Chicago
cleveland.com/guardians/2026/09/guardians-walk-their-way-to-12-9-win-over-royals-retain-one-game-lead-in-al-central-over-chicago.html
Photo: cleveland.com · view article
Guardians beat Royals 12-9 after five-run ninth inningAfter beating Kansas City, Cleveland retained a one-game lead over Chicago in the AL Central with two games remaining.
Key FactsSep 26, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: cleveland.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: cleveland.com
- Cleveland defeated Kansas City 12-9 after scoring five ninth-inning runs to break a 7-7 tie.
- The Guardians drew 13 walks, including six in the ninth; six walks produced runs overall.
- Chicago defeated Colorado 6-1, allowing Cleveland to retain its one-game AL Central lead.
- Cleveland's magic number is two, and the division could be clinched Saturday with a Guardians win and White Sox loss.
I thought we had great at bats up and down the lineup in the ninth. Everyone wants to step up in that situation and get the big double that breaks it up. Credit to our guys for staying patient and taking the walks. That’s not easy to do.— Stephen Vogt, Guardians manager, discussing the ninth-inning rally against the Royals.
Story Details
| Last Updated | |
| Total Articles | 1 |
Main Topics
baseball team and Major League Baseball franchise in Cleveland, Ohio
city and county seat of Cook County, and largest city in State of Illinois, United States of America
Similar to This
Previous
Drew Rasmussen leads Rays to pivotal Game 5 victory over Guardians: The right-hander helped lead the team to a 3-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians.
yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/drew_rasmussen_leads_rays_to_pivotal_game_5_victory_over_guardians/s1_13132_44444663
For the Guardians, an unlikely October hero arrived in Game 3. His name is Petey: Halpin's home run on Thursday pushed the Cleveland Guardians to within two wins ...
nytimes.com/athletic/7691104/2026/10/15/petey-halpin-guardians-alcs-game-3-home-run-mlb-playoffs/
Rays even up ALCS as José Ramírez error proves costly for Guardians: José Ramírez's crucial error opened the door the Rays needed to put up a three-run inning ...
usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2026/10/13/rays-win-alcs-game-2-guardians-jose-ramirez-error/92243067007/
Guardians grind down Rays to steal ALCS opener at hostile Trop: After falling behind early on Monday, the Guardians shook off the chaos and settled into their ...
sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/guardians-grind-down-rays-to-steal-alcs-opener-at-hostile-trop/
Chicago White Sox’s season ends in 2-0 loss to the Cleveland Guardians in ALDS Game 5
chicagotribune.com/2026/10/10/chicago-white-sox-cleveland-guardians-alds-game-5/
It was crazy. It was agony. It was a Guardians win in their biggest game of the season!!! – Terry Pluto
cleveland.com/guardians/2026/10/it-was-crazy-it-was-agony-it-was-a-guardians-win-in-their-biggest-game-of-the-season-terry-pluto.html
Chicago White Sox again fail to KO Guardians, who win 9-5 to force Game 5 on Saturday in Cleveland
chicagotribune.com/2026/10/08/alds-game-4-white-sox-guardians-score/
White Sox ran out of gas, magic in Chicago. Now they must find some more in Cleveland
nytimes.com/athletic/7673919/2026/10/09/white-sox-guardians-alds-game-4-lost-magic/
ALDS Game 3: Chicago White Sox lose for 1st time this postseason, fall 9-3 to the Cleveland Guardians
chicagotribune.com/2026/10/07/alds-game-3-white-sox-guardians/
ALDS Game 2: Chicago White Sox ride 3-run 6th inning to a 4-3 win over the Cleveland Guardians
chicagotribune.com/2026/10/05/alds-white-sox-guardians-game-2/
Guardians bend but don’t break, rally in ninth to beat Boston, 3-2, keep their hold on first place
cleveland.com/guardians/2026/09/guardians-bend-but-dont-break-rally-in-ninth-to-beat-boston-3-2.html
Key FactsGuardians rally past Boston, retain AL Central lead
Sep 23, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: cleveland.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: cleveland.com
- Chase DeLauter scored the decisive run in the ninth inning on Nathaniel Lowe’s sacrifice fly.
- The Guardians (82-75) still lead Chicago (81-76) by one game; magic numbers for the AL Central title and a playoff berth are five and two, respectively.
- Parker Messick allowed one run over five innings and recorded five strikeouts; Stephen Vogt praised his consistency.
- Foster Griffin and Sonny Gray are scheduled to start Wednesday, September 23, at 7:10 p.m.
This game means a lot to us. We’re playing for something big here.— Hunter Gaddis, Guardians pitcher, after Gasper’s pinch-hit leadoff homer tied the game in the eighth inning.
Brayan Rocchio follows slam with walk-off homer in Guardians’ 7-6 win over Tigers
cleveland.com/guardians/2026/09/brayan-rocchio-follows-slam-with-walk-off-homer-in-guardians-7-6-win-over-tigers.html
Key FactsRocchio Leads Guardians in Doubleheader Opener Win
Sep 5, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: cleveland.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: cleveland.com
- After trailing 6-1, Cleveland tied the game in the fourth before Rocchio hit the winning homer in the ninth.
- According to Sarah Langs and Elias, Rocchio became the sixth MLB player to hit a grand slam and walk-off homer in one game.
- The Guardians moved within 2.5 games of AL Central-leading Chicago and remained one game ahead of Texas and Toronto.
- The game’s start was delayed by rain for one hour and four minutes.
Everything we do is to help the team make the playoffs. We play from the first out to the last out.— Brayan Rocchio after the Guardians' 7-6 walk-off win over the Tigers.
Boston’s six-run seventh inning sinks Guardians, denying Tanner Bibee his first win in 9-4 loss to Red Sox
cleveland.com/guardians/2026/05/bostons-six-run-seventh-inning-sinks-guardians-denying-tanner-bibee-his-first-win-in-9-4-loss-to-red-sox.html
Guardians’ defense, bullpen crater in late innings; lose 9-1 to Red Sox: The Guardians tied a season high with four errors against the Red Sox on Saturday at ...
cleveland.com/guardians/2026/05/guardians-defense-bullpen-crater-in-late-innings-lose-9-1-to-red-sox.html
Tigers swept by Guardians and now are in last place all by themselves: The Tigers were swept for the fifth time in 2026, and now are 11 games under .500 and 9 ...
detroitnews.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2026/05/21/tigers-swept-in-four-games-by-cleveland-guardians-as-offense-remains-horrific/90192311007/
Guardians survive late drama to beat Royals, 8-5 for winning road trip: The Guardians returned to Cleveland with a 4-3 record on this seven-game trip.
cleveland.com/guardians/2026/05/guardians-survive-late-drama-to-beat-royals-8-5-for-winning-road-trip.html
Parker Messick continues to be a success story for Guardians: Parker Messick solidified his role in the Cleveland Guardians' starting rotation ...
yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/parker_messick_continues_to_be_a_success_story_for_guardians/s1_13132_43737819
Brayan Rocchio’s walk-off RBI single gives Guardians a 2-1 win against Royals: Brayan Rocchio's RBI single in the ninth inning was his fourth career walk-off ...
cleveland.com/guardians/2026/04/brayan-rocchios-walk-off-rbi-single-gives-guardians-a-2-1-win-against-royals.html
Next