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Guardians score, recap vs Kansas City Royals | C.J. Kayfus lifts Cleveland to huge win
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- Guardians score, recap vs Kansas City Royals | C.J. Kayfus lifts Cleveland to huge win
CLEVELAND — Looking to rebound after a costly loss, Gavin Williams and the Guardians look to close out their crucial four-game series on a high note against the Kansas City Royals .
Both teams are nearing a desperation mode as they try to track down the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners , who are both ahead in the AL wild card race .
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Follow along here for live score updates, analysis and highlights from the Guardians- Royals game on Sept. 11 at Progressive Field.
Below is some pregame information.
Cade Smith earns the save, Guardians beat the Royals
The Guardians beat the Royals 3-2 on Kayfus' go-ahead home run in the eighth.
The Royals put the potential tying run on base in the ninth, but Guardians reliever Cade Smith struck out two batters and then got Mike Yastrzemski on a flyout to right field to end it.
C.J. Kayfus hits go-ahead home run in 8th inning; Guardians take lead against Royals
C.J. Kayfus just had one of the biggest swings of the Guardians' 2025 season.
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With one out and a runner on first, and with the Guardians still trailing 2-1, Kayfus launched a 425-foot go-ahead, two-run home run to center field off of Royals reliever John Schreiber .
It put the Guardians up 3-2, and it genuinely might have gone a long way toward saving their playoff hopes considering they can ill afford many missteps. Cleveland entered this series badly needing to take at least three of the four games.
Cade Smith is entering for the ninth inning.
Sep 11, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians right fielder CJ Kayfus (63) is greeted by manager Stephen Vogt (12) after hitting a two-run home run in the eighth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
Gavin Williams done after 6 innings; Royals lead Guardians
Gavin Williams' night is finished after six innings and 105 pitches. He allowed only the two-run home run in the first inning, and he'll finish with six strikeouts.
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The Royals lead 2-1 entering the seventh inning. Erik Sabrowski is coming into the game.
Bobby Witt Jr. highlight reel play saves a run; Guardians, Royals update
Bo Naylor doubled in the fifth inning and with two outs, C.J. Kayfus nearly tied it with a hard-hit grounder to the left side of the infield, but Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. made a tremendous play to dive to his right, get up and make the throw to take away the tying run.
Sep 11, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians center fielder Nolan Jones (22) reacts after hitting a foul ball off his foot in the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
Guardians, Royals score: Steven Kwan double leads to Cleveland cutting into K.C. lead
The Guardians recorded their first base runner and their first run in the fourth inning.
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Steven Kwan opened the inning with a double and eventually came around to score via a groundout by Jose Ramirez , and the Guardians have cut the Royals' lead to 2-1.
Gavin Williams has been solid since the first-inning homer, giving up one hit in three scoreless innings.
Stephen Kolek blanks Guardians through 3 innings
The Royals will take a 2-0 lead into the top of the fourth inning, as the Guardians have been set down in order through the first three innings by Royals starter Stephen Kolek.
Bo Naylor, in the third inning, came about two feet away from a home run, but Jac Caglianone caught it at the wall.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 11: Starting pitcher Gavin Williams #32 of the Cleveland Guardians pitches during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field on September 11, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Vinnie Pasquantino home run puts Royals ahead of Guardians
The Guardians, needing a rebound, aren't off to the best start.
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Facing Gavin Williams, Vinnie Pasquantino crushed a two-run home run in the first inning, putting the Royals up 2-0. That gives Pasquantino a 30-homer, 100-RBIs season.
The Guardians will have to play catch-up right from the start tonight. And splitting this series with the Royals after taking the first two games would be a pretty crushing blow to their playoff hopes, even with the White Sox coming into town.
Guardians lineup vs Royals
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Steven Kwan, LF
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George Valera , DH
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Jose Ramirez, 3B
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Kyle Manzardo , 1B
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Nolan Jones , CF
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Daniel Schneemann , 2B
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Brayan Rocchio , SS
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Bo Naylor, C
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C.J. Kayfus, RF
Guardians schedule, upcoming games
The Guardians begin a key four-game series at Progressive Field against the Royals Sept. 8. The Chicago White Sox then come to Cleveland for weekend series. After a day off, the Guardians then go on the road to face the Detroit Tigers .
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How can I watch, stream or listen to the Guardians vs Royals game?
The game on Sept. 11 can be viewed on Fox. It can also be streamed via MLB's direct-to-consumer streaming subscription ( CLEGuardians.TV ). And it'll be available on the radio via WTAM 1100, WMMS 100.7 and WARF 1350.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Guardians score vs Kansas City Royals game updates, highlights
