TAMPA, Fla. — Steven Kwan’s two-out RBI infield single scored Daniel Schneemann with the go-ahead run, and Cade Smith slammed the door on the Rays in the ninth with a pair of strikeouts as the Guardians picked up a 3-2 win Saturday at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Kwan bounced a grounder to the left side of the infield against Rays right-hander Pete Fairbanks and beat the throw of Tampa shortstop Carson Williams as Schneemann scored from third base.
Schneemann was aboard with a leadoff single, his second hit of the night. He advanced to second when pinch-hitter Brayan Rocchio walked and both runners moved up on a well-executed sacrifice bunt by Bo Naylor. Fairbanks then struck out C.J. Kayfus, setting the stage for Kwan’s two-out heroics.
Kwan’s go-ahead RBI was the seventh in his career in the ninth inning or later, and fourth this season. The All-Star left fielder also singled in the fifth, reached base three times and added two steals.
Manager Stephen Vogt said he was not surprised at the result when Kwan picked up Kayfus after the rookie whiffed with two runners in scoring position against a quality reliever in Fairbanks.
“That’s what good teams do, and that’s what this team has done for each other a lot this year,” Vogt said. “(Kwan) is one of the guys we want up there in every situation.”
Smith pitched a scoreless ninth for his 10th save in 15 chances. The win moves Cleveland within 2 1/2 games of the final wild card spot in the American League.
After dropping the series opener, Cleveland has won back-to-back games and seven of its last 11 on the heels of a six-game losing skid. The Guardians moved ahead of the Rays, but still trail the Royals, Rangers and Mariners for the last postseason bid.
Fairbanks took the loss, his fifth, and Hunter Gaddis, who tossed a scoreless eighth, earned his second win. Schneemann reached base three times, including a walk in the sixth.
The Rays were in position to break the game open in the seventh, but ran themselves out of the inning with the bases loaded and two outs.
Guardians starter Tanner Bibee gave up an infield single to Jake Mangum and reliever Erik Sabrowski walked pinch hitters Christopher Morel and Nick Fortes. But with Sabrowski ahead of Chandler Simpson in the count, Mangum inexplicably broke for home and was easily thrown out trying to steal, ending Tampa’s scoring threat.
Naylor helped Cleveland’s cause when he cut down Yandy Diaz trying to steal second in the eighth, his 19th caught stealing in 88 chances this season.
Vogt said Cleveland had an inkling that something was about to happen on Mangum’s attempt, but credited Sabrowski for remaining calm and making the play that was in front of him.
“Two walks and you’ve got a guy 0-2, all you’re thinking about is executing one more pitch, and (Sabrowski) looked calm as ever,” Vogt said. “That play, a lot can go wrong. Tip your cap to that and then Bo with the caught stealing in the eighth, as well. Those were two huge, huge momentum plays for us.”
Sabrowski said he goes to a multiple-step set position when there is a runner on third, and routinely takes glances at the runner before delivering.
“Definitely focused on trying to get an out, and then I see a kind of white blur out of the corner of my eye, and I’m happy I stepped off and threw it home,” Sabrowski said. “I appreciate the free out.”
Bibee pitched into the seventh inning, striking out three and allowing a pair of runs on five hits. Rays starter Shane Baz struck out eight in just five innings, but allowed a pair of runs in the fourth before Tampa rallied to tie the score in the sixth.
Cleveland jumped in front in the fourth as the first four batters of the inning reached base. Baz hit Jose Ramírez with a pitch and walked Kyle Manzardo before a Nolan Jones single to right loaded the bases.
Schneemann followed with a two-out, two-run single to the gap in left center off Baz that fell just beyond the reach of a diving Mangum, allowing Ramírez and Manzardo to score for a 2-0 Guardians advantage.
It was Schneemann’s first hit in nine September at-bats and his first multi-RBI road game since July 8. He entered the game with a .786 OPS on the road, compared to a .559 OPS at home.
But Bibee was unable to hold the lead. He allowed a leadoff home run to Josh Lowe in the fifth inning that cut the Guardians’ lead in half. Tristan Gray doubled to open the sixth and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Chandler Simpson. Yandy Diaz brought Gray home with the tying run on a slow grounder past the mound that Gabriel Arias could not handle.
The play was originally ruled an error on Arias, but later changed to a fielder’s choice and an RBI for Diaz, his 77th.
Ramírez’s double in the first inning gave him three straight games with an extra-base hit. His stolen base off Baz in the fourth inning was the 280th of his career, breaking a tie with Omar Vizquel and moving him in to sole possession of second place on Cleveland’s all-time list, trailing only Kenny Lofton (452).
Ramírez joined Hall of Famer Craig Biggio as the only players with tat least 280 home runs and 280 steals in their career, all with the same club.
Next
The series concludes Sunday with a 12:10 p.m. first pitch from George M. Steinbrenner Field. Left-hander Parker Messick (1-0, 2.08) will start for Cleveland while right-hander Drew Rasmussen (10-5, 2.74) takes the mound for the Rays. The game will air on CLEGuardians.TV, WTAM 1100 AM, WMMS 100.7 FM and the Guardians Radio Network.
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