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Guardians score, recap vs Rockies | Cade Smith blows save chance in Cleveland loss
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- Guardians score, recap vs Rockies | Cade Smith blows save chance in Cleveland loss
CLEVELAND — The Guardians and Colorado Rockies me for a July 28 matchup at Progressive Field , and Cleveland's nightmare day continued with an 8-6 loss to the worst team in baseball.
The Guardians entered July 28 3.5 games out of a playoff spot and working to get above the .500 mark for the season. The Rockies, on the other hand, had been among the worst teams in baseball history.
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Here's how the Guardians-Rockies game on July 28 unfolded, which included a 2.5-hour rain delay.
Guardians fall to the Rockies
The Guardians have successfully pulled off the nightmare day of losing Emmanuel Clase due to a gambling investigation followed by a 2.5-hour rain delay followed by a loss to the worst team in baseball that included a blown save by the pitcher needed to replace Clase.
The Rockies have beaten the Guardians 8-6. Nolan Jones added an RBI single in the ninth, but it was too little, too late for Cleveland, as Brayan Rocchio struck out to end the game.
Rockies have 4-run 9th inning
The historically-bad Rockies, of all teams, are pouring it on the Guardians in the ninth inning.
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After Freeman's go-ahead single, Mickey Moniak scored a run with a sacrifice fly and Hunter Goodman doubled off the wall in left field against Tim Herrin to bring home another, and the Rockies now lead 8-5.
Tyler Freeman gives the Rockies the lead in the 9th inning
With runners on second and third and one out, Tyler Freeman got his revenge against the Guardians with a go-ahead RBI single to right field to put the Rockies up 6-5.
Freeman has driven in three runs tonight.
Cade Smith 's night is done. It was a disaster of a ninth inning to follow a disaster of a day for the Guardians.
Cade Smith blows the save in the 9th inning
The nightmare scenario for the Guardians after this long day, including the loss of Emmanuel Clase for at least the next month, has happened: Cade Smith has blown the save in the ninth inning (at almost midnight, no less).
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Smith was called upon to protect a one-run lead, and the Rockies quickly erased it.
Warming Brenabel opened the inning with a ground-rule double off the left field wall (the ball strangely bounced and landed within the wall). Brenton Doyle followed with a sacrifice bunt, which Smith promptly threw away, which brought around the tying run.
Hunter Goodman home run cuts into Guardians lead
The Rockies got one of those runs back in a hurry on Hunter Goodman's rocket of a home run off Hunter Gaddis that has cut Cleveland's advantage to 5-4 in the eighth inning.
And Cade Smith is warming up for the ninth inning. Manager Stephen Vogt noted they weren't ready to name a closer, but it seems very likely Smith gets most of the chances.
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Guardians take the lead with 5-run inning
The Guardians have their first lead of the night.
After Bo Naylor 's three-run home run, the Guardians loaded the bases with nobody out, including an infield single by Angel Martinez and an intentional walk to Jose Ramirez .
Carlos Santana brought home a run by drawing a walk, and Daniel Schneemann added an RBI single to make it a 5-3 Guardians lead heading to the eighth inning.
Martinez now has a career-high 11-game on-base streak.
Jul 28, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians catcher Bo Naylor (23) celebrates his 3-run pinch-hit home run in the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
Bo Naylor hits tying 3-run home run in 7th inning
Guardians fans have had absolutely nothing to cheer for all day, from the Emmanuel Clase news to the 2.5 hour rain delay to the six innings of shutout baseball— until Bo Naylor stepped to the plate as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning and launched a score-tying, three-run home run. It's tied 3-3.
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That's the Guardians' first pinch-hit home run this season.
Warming Bernabel drills solo home run
Warming Bernabel, who has quite the name, just crushed a solo home run to the Home Run porch to give the Rockies a 3-0 lead in the top of the sixth inning.
For Guardians fans who stuck out the 2.5 hour rain delay, it's been a rough watch so far.
Carlos Santana stays in game after apparent leg injury
A couple of walks by Slade Cecconi led to Tyler Freeman, who drove in a run to make it 2-0 Rockies in the fifth inning.
Mickey Moniak then grounded a ball to first baseman Carlos Santana, who caught Orlando Arcia too far off third base. Santana ran toward Arcia and eventually tagged him out, but while running him down, Santana appeared to sustain a leg injury.
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He was limping for a bit and was checked on by trainers but remained in the game.
Freeman, dealt from Cleveland a few days before Opening Day, has driven in both runs tonight.
Tyler Freeman drives in a run; Guardians, Rockies score update
With a runner on third, Tyler Freeman drove a ball to deep right field that was caught by Nolan Jones — who was traded in exchange for Freeman just before Opening Day — for a sacrifice fly and a 1-0 Rockies lead in the third inning.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JULY 28: Starting pitcher Slade Cecconi #44 of the Cleveland Guardians pitches against the Colorado Rockies during the first inning at Progressive Field on July 28, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Guardians, Rockies score; Both teams scoreless through 2nd inning
The Guardians put two runners on with nobody out, the combo of Daniel Schneemann, Nolan Jones and Brayan Rocchio couldn't bring a runner home.
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The Guardians and Rockies enter the third inning still scoreless.
A general view of Progressive Field during a rain delay before a game between the Guardians and the Colorado Rockies on July 28, 2025, in Cleveland.
After a delay, Guardians vs. Rockies is scheduled to begin at 9:10 p.m.
At approximately 8:13 p.m., the Guardians announced first pitch versus the Rockies is scheduled for 9:10 p.m.
A weather delay upended the game's original 6:40 p.m. start time.
Guardians-Rockies in rain delay
The Guardians game will be delayed.
The July 28 Guardians-Rockies game is officially under a rain delay as of 5:55 p.m. First pitch was scheduled for 6:40 p.m., but that won't be happening.
A new first-pitch time has not been determined. This post will be updated when further information is available.
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Below is some pregame information.
Emmanuel Clase under MLB investigation for gambling
Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase is also under investigation by the league related to sports-betting. He joins Luis Ortiz in that regard.
Shane Bieber injury update
Guardians starter Shane BIeber's next rehab outing is expected to come with the RubberDucks.
Guardians lineup vs Rockies
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Steven Kwan , LF
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Angel Martinez, CF
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Jose Ramirez, 3B
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Kyle Manzardo , DH
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Carlos Santana, 1B
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Daniel Schneemann, 2B
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Nolan Jones, RF
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Brayan Rocchio, SS
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Austin Hedges , C
MLB Standings: American League Central
The American League Central Division standings entering July 28:
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Tigers 61-46
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Guardians 52-53 (8)
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Royals 52-54 (8.5)
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Twins 50-55 (10)
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White Sox 38-68 (22.5)
Guardians schedule | Upcoming games
The Guardians and Rockies play a three-game series beginning July 28 before the Minnesota Twins will face Cleveland in a three-game AL Central series beginning Aug. 1. The Guardians then hit the road on road trips to face the New York Mets and Chicago White Sox.
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How can I watch, stream or listen to the Guardians vs Rockies game?
The game on July 28 can be viewed locally on AT&T U-verse (channel 1736), COX (channel 80), DIRECTV Satellite and Streaming (channel 662), FuboTV and Spectrum (channel 1306). 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: Guardians score last night, Cleveland minus closer blows save
