Guardians score, Cleveland beats Rangers on walk-off hit by pitch to punch playoff ticket

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Guardians score, Cleveland beats Rangers on walk-off hit by pitch to punch playoff ticket

Ryan Lewis, Akron Beacon Journal · Akron Beacon Journal

Sat, Sep 27, 2025 ·

6 min read

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CLEVELAND — The Guardians have been knocking on the door of the postseason for a few days now. They broke it down Saturday, Sept. 27 at Progressive Field.

The Guardians defeated the Rangers 3-2 on a walk-off hit by pitch, clinching at least a wild card playoff spot. Their magic number to win the AL Central is at one entering the final day of the regular season, meaning a Guardians win or a Tigers loss makes Cleveland the division champs.

Here's how the game unfolded through our live score updates, analysis and highlights.

Guardians beat Rangers in walk-off fashion, secure playoff berth

The Guardians are headed to the postseason via a wild walk-off win in the bottom of the ninth.

Johnathan Rodriguez drew a walk and was subbed out for Petey Halpin as a pinch runner.

With two outs, Kyle Manzardo blooped a single into shallow left field, which put runners on the corners and the winning run 90 feet away. Gabriel Arias was intentionally walked to load the bases.

Unbelievably, C.J. Kayfus was drilled by a pitch to win the game and send the Guardians to the playoffs.

Steven Kwan line drive caught by Rowdy Tellez

With a runner on first and two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, Steven Kwan lined a ball down the first-base line, that had a real shot at being the go-ahead hit, but Rowdy Tellez snagged it with an out-stretched grab.

This game will go the ninth tied 2-2. If the Guardians are to punch their ticket to the postseason with this game, it'll be via a walk-off.

Rangers baserunner blunder erases scoring threat

The Rangers continue to give the Guardians absolute gifts.

Cade Smith entered the game and nearly got out of the jam with one pitch, getting a ground ball to the left side. The Guardians got the out at second for the second out of the inning, but Jhonkensy Noel couldn't handle the throw at first base, and the inning continued with runners on the corners.

Adolis Garcia worked to a 3-1 count against Smith, and for some unknown reason, Josh Jung took off for second base. Austin Hedges ' throw to second beat him there by several steps, creating a run down. Brayan Rocchio , who made a great play on a slightly high throw, ran Jung back to first and then threw it home, and Hedges easily tagged out Dylan Moore at the plate to end the inning.

And a dangerous scoring chance for the Rangers was given away.

Guardians turning to Cade Smith in 8th inning

The Rangers put the first two runners of the eighth inning on base against Erik Sabrowski , though he recovered a bit to strike out Cody Freeman for the first out of the inning.

And with that, Stephen Vogt is turning to Cade Smith with one out in the eighth and two runners on base. It's tied 2-2.

Josh Jung and Adolis Garcia are due up for the Rangers.

Guardians, Rangers tied heading to 8th inning

Cleveland and Texas are trading zeros, and this game will enter the eighth inning tied 2-2.

Sep 27, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians catcher Austin Hedges (27) reacts after striking out to end the fifth inning against the Texas Rangers at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Guardians strand go-ahead runner at 3rd in 5th inning

The Guardians were given a gift in the fifth inning, but they couldn't take advantage of it.

Gabriel Arias, leading off the inning, lined a ball to left field. Rangers outfielder Cody Freeman misjudged it, allowing it to get by him with a dive. That allowed Arias to slide into third with a triple, putting the potential go-ahead run 90 feet away.

But Rangers starter Jacob Latz put together a tremendous stretch, striking out Jhonkensy Noel, Brayan Rocchio and then Austin Hedges to end the inning.

It's still tied 2-2 heading to the sixth inning.

CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 27: Adolis GarcÃa #53 of the Texas Rangers hits a solo home run during the fourth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on September 27, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)

Adolis Garcia blasts home run to tie Guardians, Rangers score

This one is tied again, and it was a loud swing. Adolis Garcia absolutely teed off on Cantillo , crushing a 433-foot solo home run to tie it, 2-2, in the top of the fourth inning.

The fan who caught the home run ball threw it back onto the field, but according to the MLB rulebook, it still counts.

Guardians-Rangers score

The Guardians will take a 2-1 lead into the top of the fourth inning.

Joey Cantillo has settled down a bit from his first inning, following it with two hitless frames.

Sep 27, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Joey Cantillo (54) throws a pitch against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Johnathan Rodriguez crushes 2-run home run, Guardians lead Rangers

One of the biggest swings of Cleveland's 2025 season just came from a surprise candidate.

Johnathan Rodriguez, who was called up due to David Fry being hit in the face by a 99 mph pitch and is hitting cleanup tonight, launched a two-run, go-ahead home run in the bottom of the first inning, giving the Guardians a 2-1 advantage.

That was his second career home run and there's a chance it plays a huge part in sending Cleveland to the postseason.

Cleveland Guardians' Jose Ramirez hits a single against the Texas Rangers on Sept. 27, 2025, in Cleveland.

Guardians, Rangers score: Texas takes early lead

Once again, a Guardians starter has given up at least one run in the first inning, and the Rangers have struck first tonight. This time, it was Joey Cantillo.

Michael Helman led off the game with a double to left field, and two batters later came around to score via Josh Jung's RBI double down the left-field line, giving the Rangers an early 1-0 lead.

Sep 27, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians right fielder Johnathan Rodriguez (30) hits a home run against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Below is some pregame information.

Guardians lineup vs Rangers

Steven Kwan, LF
Angel Martinez, CF
Jose Ramirez , 3B
Johnathan Rodriguez, RF
Kyle Manzardo, DH
Gabriel Arias, SS
Jhonkensy Noel, 1B
Brayan Rocchio, 2B
Austin Hedges, C

Guardians starting pitcher today

Manager Stephen Vogt is giving the ball to Joey Cantillo with a spot in the playoffs on the line. The Rangers will counter with Jacob Latz.

Cleveland's pitching plans for Sunday's game are entirely up in the air.

MLB playoff picture

Here's a look at where the Guardians fit in the playoff picture, heading into tonight's game.

If the season were to end today, here's how the American League playoff bracket would look.

No. 1 New York Yankees , No. 2 Seattle Mariners (first-round byes).

No. 6 Detroit Tigers at No. 3 Cleveland Guardians .

No. 5 Boston Red Sox at No. 4 Toronto Blue Jays

AL wild card standings

The AL wild-card standings entering Sept. 27 (top three teams make the playoffs):

x-Yankees — 92-68 (6 games ahead)
x-Red Sox — 88-72 (2 games ahead)
Tigers — 86-74 (-)
Astros — 85-75 (1 game behind)

x-Denotes team has clinched playoff spot.
The Guardians own the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Astros.

AL Central Division standings

The AL Central Division standings entering Sept. 27:

Guardians — 86-74
Tigers — 86-74

Guardians own the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Tigers.
The New York Yankees (92-68) and Toronto Blue Jays (92-68) are tied for the lead in the AL East and have clinched playoff spots. The Blue Jays own the tiebreaker. The Seattle Mariners (90-70) have clinched the AL West and a playoff berth.

Cleveland Guardians game schedule for the rest of the 2025 MLB season

Saturday, Sept. 27: vs. Texas Rangers , 7:15 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 28: vs. Texas Rangers , 3:10 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians score tonight, win vs Rangers clinches playoff spot on HBP

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