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Guardians score vs Nationals: Cleveland splits May 6 doubleheader | Recap, highlights
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- Guardians score vs Nationals: Cleveland splits May 6 doubleheader | Recap, highlights
The Washington Nationals and Cleveland Guardians played a traditional doubleheader Tuesday, May 6 after the opener of their three-game series was rained out on May 5 .
The teams split the two games, the Nationals rallying to win Game 1 and the Guardians winning big in the nightcap.
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Here's how the doubleheader, which began at 3:35 p.m., unfolded through our live score updates:
Guardians win, split doubleheader
The Guardians win 9-1, as they limit the Nationals to four hits. Cleveland starter Ben Lively (2-2, 3.46 ERA) earned the win.
The teams wrap up their three-game series Wednesday, May 7. With the series finale set for 12:05, the entire series could be completed within 24 hours.
Austin Hedges homers for Guardians in 9th
Austin Hedges hit his third home run, a solo shot that just cleared the wall in left field. Cleveland leads 9-0.
Guardians score on another wild pitch, Daniel Schneemann blasts home run
Carlos Santana scored on a wild pitch in the eighth, the second inning in a row the Guardians scored on a wild pitch, before Daniel Schneemann hit a solo home run. His fifth homer of the year pushed Cleveland's lead to 8-1. The Nationals have thrown four wild pitches in the game.
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Guardians score 3 more in 7th
Nolan Jones scored from third on Brayan Rocchio 's ground ball to Washington shortstop CJ Abrams , whose throw was off target and allowed Jones to slide home safely. The Guardians have runners at second and third with one out as the Nationals make a pitching change. Daniel Schneemann then scored on a wild pitch before Steven Kwan 's RBI double scored Rocchio to give the Guardians a 6-1 lead.
Riley Adams home run gets Nationals on scoreboard
A Riley Adams solo home run to lead off the sixth for the Nationals cut Cleveland's lead to 3-1. Guardians starter Ben Lively got the next hitter out before giving way to the Cleveland bullpen. Reliever Tim Herrin entered for the Guardians. After walking CJ Abrams, Herrin retired the next two to end the inning.
Carlos Santana home run gives Guardians lead in Game 2
Carlos Santana hit a two-out, three-run home run in the sixth to give the Guardians a 3-0 lead. It was his fourth homer of the season, as he sent a line drive over the fence in right field. Steven Kwan and José Ramírez each scored on the blast. Kwan singled with one out to start the rally before Ramírez reached base on a two-out walk.
Guardians vs. Nationals scoreless after four innings
Each team has one hit after four innings of a scoreless Game 2. Guardians starter Ben Lively has struck out three and allowed the one hit and two walks in his four innings. Nationals starter Brad Lord also has struck out three, but has walked none and just given up the one hit.
May 6, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Ben Lively (39) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park.
Guardians and Nationals scoreless through two innings of Game 2
The Nationals have the only hit in the game after two scoreless innings in Game 2.
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Guardians score once in the 9th, but Nationals hold on for the win
Cleveland got a run on a Gabriel Arias sacrifice fly in the ninth, but that was it, and the Nationals won 10-9. The Guardians had the tying run on first when Brayan Rocchio flew out to left for the game's final out.
Nationals take back the lead in their half of the 7th
Washington strung together three straight two-out hits to take a 10-8 lead in the seventh. The Nationals scored four runs off Guardians relievers Cade Smith and Hunter Gaddis on a Keibert Ruiz RBI single, a Dylan Crews RBI double and a José Tena two-run double.
Nationals third baseman Amed Rosario celebrates an RBI double by Jose Tena (not pictured) during the seventh inning against the Cleveland Guardians, May 6, 2025, in Washington, D.C. The Nationals won 10-9 in Game 1 of a doubleheader.
Guardians regain the lead in the 7th
Cleveland scored six times in the seventh to take an 8-6 lead, as the Guardians batted around in the inning. The Guardians totaled seven hits in the inning.
Jhonkensy Noel 's RBI double scored Angel Martínez, cutting Cleveland's deficit to 6-3. José Ramírez beat out an infield single to score Steven Kwan with the fourth run. Kyle Manzardo 's fielder's choice drove home Noel with the fifth run. Gabriel Arias singled to left to score Manzardo and Carlos Santana to give the Guardians the lead. Martínez, batting for the second time in the inning, drove home Bo Naylor with an infield single to shortstop. Nolan Jones, though, was thrown out on the play trying to score from second on the play, ending the inning.
May 6, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Cleveland Guardians designated hitter Kyle Manzardo (9) celebrates scoring a run during the seventh inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park.
Nationals score 2 more in the 6th
Jacob Young 's two-run single to center scored Keibert Ruiz and Luis García Jr. scores, increasing the Nationals to 6-2.
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Nationals increase lead in 5th
Washington leads 4-2 heading into the sixth after Alex Call singled to center to score Jacob Young.
James Wood home run puts Nationals ahead in 3rd
James Wood hit his 10th home run of the season, a two-run shot to right, putting the Washington ahead 3-2 in the third inning.
Guardians regain lead on Nolan Jones home run
Nolan Jones hit a solo home run in the second to put the Guardians back ahead 2-1. Jones hit it out to right field for his second homer this season.
Nationals score in first to tie Game 1
CJ Abrams reached on an error and came around to score on a Nathaniel Lowe one-out single to center. The teams head to the second tied 1-1.
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Guardians score in first take early lead in Game 1
Cleveland loaded the bases on walks with one out and scored once, for a 1-0 lead. Daniel Schneeman scored the lone run on a wild pitch.
Guardians vs. Nationals pitching probables Game 1: Luis Ortiz vs. Jake Irvin
Guardians right-hander Luis Ortiz (2-3, 4.78 ERA) and Nationals right-hander Jake Irvin (2-1, 4.01), Monday's scheduled pitchers, will work the first game on Tuesday.
Ortiz turned in his longest outing of the season in his last start, a no-decision against the Minnesota Twins . He tossed 6 1/3 shutout innings, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out five in a game the Guardians won 4-2.
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"We needed that from Luis to have a chance to win this game and I know he won't get the win, but Luis won the game for us," manager Stephen Vogt said. "Just the efficiency, getting into the seventh that way and as many outs as you can."
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 23: Luis L. Ortiz #45 of the Cleveland Guardians throws a pitch during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Progressive Field on April 23, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
Ortiz is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in two games versus Washington.
Irvin is looking to bounce back after his worst outing of the young season. Against the Phillies , he allowed six runs on eight hits -- two of them homers -- in six innings.
Irvin won his only career start against Cleveland, allowing two runs over six innings on June 2, 2024.
Guardians vs. Nationals pitching probables Game 2: Ben Lively vs. Brad Lord
May 1, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Ben Lively (39) celebrates during the sixth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Cleveland sends right-hander Ben Lively (1-2, 3.72) against right-hander Brad Lord (1-3, 4.43) in Game 2.
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Lively tossed 5 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball in a no-decision against the Minnesota Twins on May 1. He allowed five hits and struck out two without a walk.
Lively is 1-1 is 3.29 ERA in two starts against the Nationals.
Rookie Lord earned his first major league win last time out, allowing two runs in five innings against the Phillies. He struck out four and walked one.
"It was really just mixing and matching pitches, trying to keep them off-balance, really trying to keep them off the fastball," Lord said. "Me and (catcher Keibert Ruiz) had a plan and executed a lot of off-speed pitches."
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Pitching in the rotation in place of the injured Michael Soroka , Lord has allowed only two runs in each of his last three starts. With Soroka about to return, the team will need to decide whether to keep Lord in Washington or option him to Triple-A Rochester.
Nationals injury update: Josh Bell 's status
Washington infielder Josh Bell was not in the lineup Monday and would have missed his third straight game while dealing with a groin issue.
"I'm being very cautious," manager Dave Martinez said Monday. "We have played in some bad weather. He's a big guy, so I want to make sure that he's OK. But he's definitely doing better."
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Bell is hitting .139 with five home runs and 14 RBIs in 30 games.
Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase has saves in last 3 appearances
Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase celebrates the final out in a win over the Twins, April 30, 2025, in Cleveland.
Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase came on to protect a two-run lead Sunday. He began the inning with a throwing error and allowed a run before getting the final out of a 5-4 win for his seventh save.
Clase has earned a save in each of his last three appearances. He's not allowed an earned run in four of his last five outings, allowing four hits and no walks during five innings with six strikeouts. The All-Star has dropped his ERA from 7.84 to 5.87 in this stretch after a rocky start to the season.
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"(There is) no one else on the planet I'd rather have on the mound in the ninth inning," Vogt said of his closer.
MLB standings: AL Central Division
This story will be updated later with the results and details from the Guardians doubleheader vs. the Nationals.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians score yesterday vs Nationals, teams split doubleheader
