KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Cleveland Guardians survived a back-and-forth slugfest with the Kansas City Royals on Friday night, pulling away for a 12-9 win that kept them atop the American League Central and lowered their magic number to win the division to two.
The teams combined to score in seven of the nine innings, with seven runs crossing the plate in the ninth inning alone. The Royals launched three two-run home runs on the night, but the Guardians’ patience at the plate proved to be the difference: Cleveland drew 13 walks, its most since walking 14 times in a 1979 game against the Toronto Blue Jays.
With the Royals bullpen unable to find the strike zone, the Guardians took full advantage. Kansas City walked nine of 13 Cleveland hitters at one point in the final two innings, including a series of bases-loaded walks during a five-run ninth. Angel Martinez capped the rally with a two-run double. Martinez was the only Guardian with two hits and drove in four runs on the night.
Austin Hedges and David Fry delivered big home runs early for Cleveland, with Fry’s two-run shot coming in the fifth. Jose Ramirez added two RBIs, and 10 Guardians reached base via walk, with Steven Kwan, Chase DeLauter, and Jo Adell each drawing two.
Starter Gavin Williams had a rough night, lasting just 3.1 innings while allowing four earned runs on five hits and four walks with four strikeouts. Cleveland burned through six relievers to get the final 18 outs.
The Guardians hold a one-game lead over the Chicago White Sox with two games to play. Both teams clinched playoff spots Thursday night; now Cleveland is chasing the division crown and a first-round bye in the postseason.
