Travis Bazzana's 1st walk-off home run caps Guardians comeback win

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Travis Bazzana's 1st walk-off home run caps Guardians comeback win

Ryan Lewis, Akron Beacon Journal · Akron Beacon Journal

Sat, Jul 18, 2026 ·

5 min read

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CLEVELAND — Take two, now with cleaner air.

The Guardians and Pirates split a doubleheader July 18 at Progressive Field after their initial attempt at beginning this three-game series was postponed due to air quality concerns , a result of the Canadian wildfires and the smoke that covered Cleveland.

The Guardians dropped the first game before winning the second in walk-off fashion on Travis Bazzana's home run in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Left-handed pitcher Logan Allen was called up as the Guardians ' 27th man for the doubleheader and started Game 2 for Cleveland.

Follow along here for live score updates, analysis and highlights from the Guardians-Pirates July 18 doubleheader.

Jul 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; The Pittsburgh Pirates celebrate a win over the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard-Imagn Images)

Jul 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Henry Davis (32) and relief pitcher Isaac Mattson (72) celebrate a win over the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard-Imagn Images)

Jul 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Nick Gonzales (3) celebrates his solo home run in the sixth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard-Imagn Images)

Jul 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Esmerlyn Valdez (55) hits a two-run home run in the sixth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard-Imagn Images)

Jul 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams (32) gets a new baseball after giving up a home run in the sixth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard-Imagn Images)

Jul 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Hot dog mascots race between innings of a game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Pittsburgh Pirates at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard-Imagn Images)

Jul 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones (17) walks off the field at the end of the fifth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard-Imagn Images)

Jul 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Umpire Alex MacKay (9) stands on the field during a game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Pittsburgh Pirates at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard-Imagn Images)

Jul 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan (38) makes a catch in the fifth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard-Imagn Images)

Jul 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Esmerlyn Valdez (55) celebrates his two-run home run in the sixth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field.
(David Richard-Imagn Images)

Jul 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Jacob Gonzalez hits a two-run home run in the second inning against the Cleveland Guardians.
(David Richard-Imagn Images)

Jul 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams (32) delivers a pitch in the second inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Jul 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones (17) delivers a pitch in the second inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
(David Richard, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Travis Bazzana hits walk-off home run

The former No. 1 overall pick has his first walk-off home run.

A wild ninth inning was capped by Travis Bazzana's walk-off, two-run home run to center field to give the Guardians a come-from-behind 5-3 win.

Earlier in the inning, Steven Kwan nearly won it in walk-off fashion with a double down the left field line. Patrick Bailey was waived around from first base but didn't slide at the plate, and essentially ran into the tag. But that didn't matter a few pitches later.

Cleveland's bullpen was also outstanding, as Shawn Armstrong , Erik Sabrowski , Franco Aleman, Colin Holderman , Will Dion and Cade Smith combined to throw 5 2/3 no-hit innings after taking over for Logan Allen.

Guardians tie Pirates with 8th inning rally

After 16 ugly innings today, the Guardians offense has finally given the Cleveland fans something for which to cheer, as they've tied it with a three-run rally in the eighth inning.

With two runners already on, Chase DeLauter drove in one run with a seeing-eye single to the right side. A wild pitch by Pirates reliever Gregory Soto scored a second run to make it 3-2. Kahlil Watson then lined a singled into right field to score DeLauter and tie it 3-3.

Gabriel Arias had a chance to give the Guardians their first lead of the entire day, as a wild pitch put both runners in scoring position, but he struck out to end the inning.

Guardians still scoreless vs Pirates

The Guardians had a scoring chance in the seventh but came up empty. With a runner on and two outs, Petey Halpin doubled to put two runners in scoring position. That led to Patrick Bailey, who entered as a pinch-hitter and was struck out by Pirates reliever Brandon Eisert to end the inning.

The Guardians have now scored one run in 16 innings today, and tomorrow they get Paul Skenes .

Khristian Curtis throws 5 scoreless innings vs Guardians

This Guardians lineup looks like it needs Jose Ramirez and Angel Martinez back more and more every day.

Khristian Curtis of the Pirates tossed five scoreless innings, and the Guardians will enter the bottom of the seventh inning with three hits tonight and, in 15 total innings today, just one run.

Guardians, Pirates score

It's been a game of mishaps for the Guardians in the field tonight.

In the top of the fourth, Jake Mangum hit a little dribbler out in front of the plate. Austin Hedges fielded it cleanly but didn't make his best throw to first, which couldn't be picked by Rhys Hoskins at first base. By the time Hoskins had gotten to it, Brandon Lowe was on the way home and slid under the tag, making it 3-0 Pirates.

Petey Halpin loses ball, Pirates score on odd play

The rains have stopped, but the smoke from the Canadian wildfires is back. It's unclear — pun intended — if it had anything to do with an odd play in the top of the third inning in which Guardians center fielder Petey Halpin lost a routine fly ball into shallow right-center field, which led to another Pirates run.

Halpin looked like he never saw it. David Fry , in right field, was also gesturing that he couldn't find it. Instead of an easy out, it's a 2-0 Pittsburgh lead.

Pirates take lead vs Guardians, Logan Allen

The Pirates have again taken an early lead. In the top of the second, and with Ryan O'Hearn on third, Brandon Lowe hit a towering fly ball to the warning track in right field that on a different day might have left the ballpark. This one went for an out, but it also scored the first run of the game.

Guardians rain delay update

Well, nevermind. It was a false start. At 7:38, 12 minutes before they were hoping to start, the rains came again and the tarp was pulled back onto the infield.

The new first-pitch time was set at 8:05 p.m. And literally about 30 seconds after they pulled the tarp, it started to rain for a third time, and the grounds crew immediately put it back onto the infield.

They're getting a workout today. The tarp has been placed and pulled three times now. The next first-pitch has been set for 8:25 p.m.

Guardians-Pirates first pitch time after delay

The second game of the doubleheader has a tentative first-pitch time of 7:50 p.m.

Is the Guardians-Pirates game in a delay?

The second game of the July 18 doubleheader will officially start in a delay with rain in the forecast.

When do the Guardians play tonight vs. Pirates?

The second game is scheduled for 7:10 after having been moved back three hours from its original start time. The first game started at 1:10 p.m.

Cleveland Guardians lineup tonight for Game 2 vs. Pirates

Travis Bazzana (L) 2B
Brayan Rocchio (S) SS
Chase DeLauter (L) DH
Rhys Hoskins (R) 1B
Daniel Schneemann (L) 3B
David Fry (R) RF
Petey Halpin (L) CF
Austin Hedges (R) C
Steven Kwan (L) LF

Pittsburgh Pirates lineup tonight for Game 2 vs. Guardians

Logan Allen's first start of 2026 for Guardians comes in Game 2

Logan Allen is making his first start of the season for Cleveland in the second game of the doubleheader after spending much of this season with Triple-A Columbus. It'll be his second appearance of the season with the Guardians. He worked four innings in relief against the Washington Nationals on May 25. He recorded seven strikeouts and gave up no runs on five hits and a walk. In Columbus this season, Allen is 4-3 with a 4.39 ERA in 16 starts, striking out 95 and walking 31 in 80 innings. Allen was a regular in Cleveland's rotation the previous three seasons and is 23-24 with a 4.44 ERA in 75 career games, 73 of them starts.

Pirates beat the Guardians in first game of doubleheader

The Guardians have fallen to the Pirates 7-1 in Game 1. It was a very quiet offensive day for Cleveland. And after tonight's second game, they get Paul Skenes tomorrow.

Guardians trail Pirates late in first game of doubleheader

The Guardians keep putting up zeroes and the Pirates keep tacking onto their lead, which now stands at 7-1 following a Matt Festa wild pitch that scored Bryan Reynolds and a Ryan O'Hearn sacrifice fly.

It's been a quiet day for the Guardians offense as the Pirates have continued to add.

Nick Gonzalez home run extends Pirates lead over Guardians

That's three home runs allowed by Gavin Williams today, as Nick Gonzalez just took him deep to right-center field for a solo shot, and Pittsburgh now leads 5-1.

The Pirates have as many home runs as the Guardians have hits in this game.

Esmerlyn Valdez launches home run off Gavin Williams

Esmerlyn Valdez's wild 2026 season continues, as he launched a two-run home run off Gavin Williams to put the Pirates up 4-1 in the sixth inning.

Williams hasn't looked particularly sharp on a few today coming off of the All-Star break, though he has been racking up strikeouts.

Who's winning the Guardians-Pirates game?

The Pirates will take a 2-1 lead into the top of the sixth inning.

Jared Jones has been terrific for the Pirates, striking out nine and allowing only three hits so far.

Travis Bazzana RBI double splits Pirates lead over Guardians in half

With outfielder Steven Kwan on first base, All-Star second baseman Travis Bazzana ripped a ball down the right-field line that scored Kwan as he lost his helmet rounding third, making it a 2-1 Pirates lead in the bottom of the third inning.

Brayan Rocchio then grounded out to end the inning with starter Jared Jones and the Pirates still holding the lead.

Guardians score vs Pirates update: Jacob Gonzalez gives Pittsburgh early lead

The Pirates have struck first today, and it was a loud one.

With a runner on in the top of the second inning, Pirates shortstop Jacob Gonzalez absolutely destroyed a Gavin Williams offering for a two-run home run. It cleared the entire lower deck in right field and landed on the concourse.