CLEVELAND — After going 3-4 on a seven-game road trip, the Guardians started a six-game homestand in ideal fashion.
The Guardians began their three-game series against the Chicago White Sox with a walk-off 7-6 win Tuesday night at Progressive Field .
"It's a lot of fun when we walk teams off, and hopefully we keep doing it," center fielder Tyler Freeman said after the Guardians earned their fifth walk-off victory this season.
The Guardians (53-30) are in first place in the AL Central . The White Sox (24-63) are last in the division.
But here's a weird fact: The Guardians are now 4-4 this season against the struggling White Sox.
First pitch between the Guardians and White Sox occurred at 6:40 p.m. Tuesday. Here are how our updates unfolded throughout the game.
With the score tied in the ninth inning, Andres Gimenez led off with a single to center field off White Sox reliever Michael Kopech and then advanced to second base on a groundout by Freeman.
With one out, Bo Naylor pinch hit for fellow catcher Austin Hedges. Gimenez advanced to third on a wild pitch, and Naylor hit a game-winning sacrifice fly to center field on a full count. There was no throw to home plate by White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr.
"I was a little shocked on the no attempt, but, I mean, I'm not surprised at the same time because obviously a guy like [Gimenez has] elite speed," Naylor said. "It's definitely going to be a tough play, but I knew that once I got it up there, I had all the confidence in [Gimenez] to make it [home]. So throw or not, I really just trusted [Gimenez] to get that done."
With the score tied 6-6, Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase worked a one-two-three ninth inning with an assist from Freeman. Clase earned the win, improving to 4-1 this season. Kopech dropped to 2-7.
Freeman made a diving, backhanded catch to rob Lenyn Sosa of a single and record the second out.
"I'm just trying to get better in the outfield every single day," Freeman said. "Some stuff's still new to me, but I think as each day passes I'm getting more comfortable out there."
Freeman had an outstanding all-around game. He went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs.
White Sox starting pitcher Chris Flexen allowed six hits, including two homers, and six runs in six innings. He struck out three and walked one. He had balk. Of his 101 pitches, 67 were strikes.
Tanner Banks relieved Flexen to begin the bottom of the seventh inning and got three consecutive outs.
The Guardians summoned Cade Smith to relieve starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco to begin the seventh inning. Carrasco allowed four hits, including two homers, and three runs in six innings. He struck out seven and walked one. Of the 70 pitches he threw, 50 were strikes.
Smith proceeded to allow three hits and a run on a one-out RBI double by Sosa. Leading 6-4, the Guardians turned to Hunter Gaddis to replace Smith. Then the drama increased.
Gaddis struck out pinch-hitter Tommy Pham looking, prompting White Sox manager Pedro Grifol to be ejected for voicing his displeasure with home plate umpire Emil Jimenez.
Then Robert hit a two-out, two-run single off Gaddis to tie the score 6-6.
Josh Naylor took one for the team. After he doubled in the sixth inning, David Fry hit a ground ball to shortstop Paul DeJong with one out.
As Naylor ran to third base, DeJong threw the ball and hit him in the back. Naylor kept going, rounded third and scored on the throwing error to give the Guardians a 4-3 edge. Fry reached first on a fielder's choice.
Later in the inning, Freeman hit a two-run home run to left field off Flexen, and the Guardians went ahead 6-3. The 362-foot homer had an exit velocity of 95.9 mph.
Robert hit a two-run home run to left field off Carrasco, tying the score 3-3 in the sixth inning.
Robert's 363-foot homer had an exit velocity of 96.7 mph.
The Guardians extended their lead to 3-1 in the fifth inning when Brayan Rocchio delivered an RBI single to right field, scoring Freeman.
Freeman led off with a single and then advanced to second base when Flexen was called for a balk.
With two outs in the third inning, Daniel Schneemann smashed a two-run home run to right field off Flexen to give the Guardians a 2-1 lead.
Schneemann's 408-foot homer had an exit velocity of 108.3 mph. It happened after Hedges drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third base on two groundouts.
Sosa hit what appeared to be a two-out, RBI double to the center-field wall off Carrasco, but the Guardians defense delivered a run-saving play to end the top of the second inning.
Freeman gathered the ball on the warning track, threw to cutoff man and second baseman Gimenez in shallow center and Gimenez threw out DeJong at home plate. Hedges applied the tag to ensure Cleveland still trailed 1-0 instead of 2-0.
"Gimmy always throws strikes to the plate," Freeman said.
Carrasco received more notable help in the third inning when shortstop Rocchio made a leaping catch off a line drive by Korey Lee.
When Carrasco was asked about Gimenez throwing out DeJong, the pitcher said the play got him fired up.
"It gets me a little bit pumped for the next inning [to] just go out there and just put some zeros on the board," Carrasco said. "That's literally what I did."
The Guardians did not counter in the first inning after falling behind 1-0, but they did make Flexen work.
Flexen threw 23 pitches in the first inning. Guardians leadoff hitter Steven Kwan had a 12-pitch at-bat, which included eight foul balls and ended with him flying out to center field.
With two outs in the first inning, Chicago's Andrew Vaughn hit a 417-foot solo home run to center field off Carrasco, giving the White Sox a 1-0 lead. The homer had an exit velocity of 103.5 mph.
Carrasco then got out of the inning without further damage.
Here is some pregame information:
Jose Ramirez on verge of passing Jim Thome on Cleveland baseball's career extra-base hit list
One of the few bright spots for the Guardians as they suffered three losses in a four-game series against the AL Central foe Kansas City Royals is five-time All-Star third baseman Jose Ramirez reached another milestone.
In Sunday's 6-2 loss to the Royals, Ramirez doubled in the eighth inning to tie Jim Thome for third on the franchise's career extra-base hit list with 620.
More Guardians coverage: Ben Lively's breakout season with Cleveland can be added to his collection of fascinating tales
Cleveland Guardians vs Chicago White Sox pitching matchup
Carrasco took the mound opposite Flexen.
The right-handed Carrasco entered this series with a 3-6 record and 5.27 ERA in 70 innings this season. Through 14 starts, he had struck out 54 and walked 23.
The right-handed Flexen was 2-7 with a 5.13 ERA in 79 innings this season. Through 15 starts, he had struck out 60 and walked 32.
Guardians news: Triston McKenzie optioned to Triple-A Columbus. Gavin Williams activated and set to start Wednesday
Cleveland Guardians lineup and batting order vs Chicago White Sox
- Steven Kwan, LF
- Daniel Schneemann, RF
- Jose Ramirez, 3B
- Josh Naylor, 1B
- David Fry, DH
- Andres Gimenez, 2B
- Tyler Freeman, CF
- Austin Hedges, C
- Brayan Rocchio, SS
Chicago White Sox lineup and batting order vs Cleveland Guardians
- Luis Robert Jr., CF
- Andrew Benintendi, LF
- Andrew Vaughn, 1B
- Gavin Sheets, RF
- Eloy Jimenez, DH
- Paul DeJong, SS
- Nicky Lopez, 2B
- Lenyn Sosa, 3B
- Korey Lee, C
Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt provides a Matthew Boyd injury update
On Saturday, the Guardians signed left-handed pitcher Matthew Boyd to a one-year contract and placed him on the 15-day injured list. Boyd underwent Tommy John surgery a year ago and has yet to pitch in a game since then.
Vogt said Boyd, 33, will throw a bullpen session Wednesday. Vogt explained Boyd will eventually have rehab assignments and the Guardians haven't yet settled on a date when they expect him to contribute.
"You're talking about a guy with tons of experience at the major league level starting and relieving, but he just brings a veteran presence to the pitching staff and a great human being with a great track record everywhere he is been," Vogt said before Tuesday's game. "I know there's a few staff members that have had him in the past, and just the pick-me-up that he could bring here when he does get healthy is huge."
Boyd has a 44-67 record with a 4.94 ERA and 845 strikeouts in 174 career games, including 160 starts, across nine MLB seasons with Toronto (2015), Detroit (2015-21, 2023) and Seattle (2022).
How can I watch, listen or stream the Cleveland Guardians game today?
The game was televised locally by Bally Sports Great Lakes. It was broadcast on the radio by WTAM (1100-AM) and WMMS (100.7-FM).
Next game on Guardians schedule
The Guardians are slated to continue their homestand with matchups against the White Sox at 6:40 p.m. Wednesday and 1:10 p.m. Thursday. The Guardians are then set to host the San Francisco Giants at 7:10 p.m. Friday, 4:10 p.m. Saturday and 1:40 p.m. Sunday.
The Guardians announced Wednesday's game versus the White Sox is sold out. It'll be the seventh sellout at Progressive Field this season.
More Cleveland Guardians: Jhonkensy Noel making name for himself in MLB. What to know about him
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians vs White Sox: Bo Naylor delivers walk-off RBI in dramatic series opener
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