Guardians score vs. Royals. Cleveland rests starters in regular-season finale - Yahoo Sports

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Guardians score vs. Royals. Cleveland rests starters in regular-season finale

Field Level Media, Akron Beacon Journal

Sun, Sep 27, 2026 ·

2 min read

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Vinnie Pasquantino 's second solo home run of the day broke an eighth-inning tie and sent the Kansas City Royals to a 3-2 victory over the visiting Cleveland Guardians on Sunday, Sept. 27.

Daniel Schneemann and Jo Adell each homered and had two hits apiece for the Guardians (85-77), who rested key regulars Steven Kwan , Jose Ramirez and Brayan Rocchio one day after securing their third consecutive American League Central title.

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With Cleveland's Austin Peterson (0-1) pitching in his fifth inning of his second major league game, Pasquantino led off the eighth by sending a 2-2 sinker well into the right field seats.

Sep 25, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Cleveland Guardians pitcher Gavin Williams (32) pitches during the second inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
(William Purnell, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 25, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Carter Jensen (22) slaps hands with first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino (9) after scoring during the second inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
(William Purnell, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 25, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Carter Jensen (22) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the second inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
(William Purnell, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 25, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals right fielder John Rave (16) on second base after hitting a double during the second inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
(William Purnell, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 25, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Cleveland Guardians catcher Austin Hedges (27) slaps hands with the third base coach after hitting a home run during the second inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
(William Purnell, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 25, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Cleveland Guardians catcher Austin Hedges (27) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the second inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
(William Purnell, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 25, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Cleveland Guardians catcher Austin Hedges (27) hits a home run during the second inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
(William Purnell, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 25, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia (11) reacts after a hit during the second inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
(William Purnell, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 25, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals right fielder Jac Caglianone (14) on second base after hitting a double during the second inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
(William Purnell, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 25, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (7) celebrates in the dugout after scoring during the second inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
(William Purnell, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 25, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Cleveland Guardians pitcher Gavin Williams (32) on the mound during the second inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
(William Purnell, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 25, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Cleveland Guardians left fielder Angel Martinez (1) dives back to first base ahead of the tag during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
(William Purnell, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 25, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Noah Cameron (65) pitches during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
(William Purnell, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Cleveland Guardians' Jose Ramirez (11) slaps hands with teammate David Fry after scoring against the Kansas City Royals on Sept. 25, 2026, in Kansas City, Missouri.
(William Purnell, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Cleveland Guardians' Steven Kwan (38) slaps hands with teammate David Fry after scoring against the Kansas City Royals on Sept. 25, 2026, in Kansas City, Missouri.
(William Purnell, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Cleveland Guardians' Jose Ramirez rounds third base to score against the Kansas City Royals on Sept. 25, 2026, in Kansas City, Missouri.
(William Purnell, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 25, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Carter Jensen (22) and pitcher Noah Cameron (65) speak on the mound during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
(William Purnell, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 25, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Rain delay announcement on the scoreboard prior to the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Cleveland Guardians at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
(William Purnell, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Pasquantino also homered off Peterson in the fifth, and Jac Caglianone and Kyle Isbel each had two hits for the Royals (69-94), who ended a disappointing 2026 season by avoiding a sweep and winning for just the seventh time in the final 25 games.

Kansas City starter Daniel Lynch IV allowed seven hits in two runs over a season-high 5⅓ innings.

Lucas Erceg yielded one hit in the ninth and earned his 13th save of the season.

Cleveland Guardians starter Parker Messick throws a pitch against the Kansas City Royals on Sept. 27, 2026, in Kansas City, Missouri.

All-Star rookie starter Parker Messick gave up six hits and a walk in three innings, but only one run, for Cleveland, which earned a bye into the AL Division Series.

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This was just the second loss in the final 11 games for the Guardians.

The Royals wasted no time getting to Messick. Maikel Garcia opened the bottom of the first inning with a walk, advanced to third on Caglianone's one-out double, then scored on Salvador Perez 's single to left field.

Cleveland tied the score in the third when Schneemann went deep over the right field fence in his first at-bat of the series.

Apr 14, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals catcher Iv‡n Herrera (48) tags out Cleveland Guardians first baseman Kyle Manzardo (9) during the fourth inning at Busch Stadium.
(Jeff Curry, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Cleveland Guardians center fielder Daniel Schneemann, left, almost collides with right fielder Angel Martinez as he catches a fly ball hit by St. Louis Cardinals' Alec Burleson (not pictured) on April 13, 2026, in St. Louis, Missouri.
(Jeff Curry, Jeff Curry-Imagn Images)

Cleveland Guardians catcher Austin Hedges (27) pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the ninth inning on April 12, 2026, in Cumberland, Georgia.
(Dale Zanine, Dale Zanine-Imagn Images)

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Parker Messick throws against the Atlanta Braves on April 11, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia.
(Brett Davis, Brett Davis-Imagn Images)

Apr 10, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) in the dugout against the Atlanta Braves in the second inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
(Brett Davis, Brett Davis-Imagn Images)

Apr 8, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians left fielder Angel Martinez (1) celebrates after hitting a grand slam during the eighth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
(Ken Blaze, Ken Blaze-Imagn Images)

Cleveland Guardians rookie Juan Brito hits a double for his first career hit during the second inning of his Major League debut against the Kansas City Royals on April 7, 2026, in Cleveland.
(Nick Cammett, Getty Images)

Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez acknowledges the fans after becoming the franchise's all time leader in games played during a game against the Kansas City Royals on April 6, 2026, in Cleveland.
(David Dermer, David Dermer-Imagn Images)

Cleveland Guardians' CJ Kayfus celebrates his solo home run with designated hitter Chase DeLauter (24) in the eighth inning against the Chicago Cubs on April 5, 2026, in Cleveland.
(David Richard, David Richard-Imagn Images)

Apr 5, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio (4) makes a catch in the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs.
(David Richard, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez slides safely into second base during the home opener against the Chicago Cubs, April 3, 2026, in Cleveland.
(Andrew Dolph, Akron Beacon Journal)

Apr 1, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Cleveland Guardians second baseman Daniel Schneemann (10) steals third base during the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images)

Mar 31, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) throws to the plate during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
(Gary A. Vasquez, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Mar 30, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Cleveland Guardians catcher Austin Hedges (27) reacts after hitting a double against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
(Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Mar 29, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez (44) scores a run off an RBI double hit by Seattle Mariners left fielder Randy Arozarena (56) during the fifth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
(Steven Bisig, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Mar 28, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Cleveland Guardians designated hitter Chase DeLauter (24) celegbrates with centerfielder Steven Kwan (38) after hitting a two-run home run during the tenth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park.
(Stephen Brashear, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Mar 27, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Cleveland Guardians right fielder Chase DeLauter (24) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images
(Stephen Brashear, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Mar 26, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Cleveland Guardians right fielder Chase DeLauter (24) runs the bases after hitting a home run against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
(Steven Bisig, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Pasquantino cleared the center field wall in the fifth for a 2-1 Kansas City edge.

Adell tied it in the sixth with a one-out drive into the left-center-field fountains.

Nate Pearson (3-4) pitched a scoreless two-thirds of an inning for the Royals, who went 41-40 at home.

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The Akron Beacon Journal sports department can be contacted via email at bjsports@thebeaconjournal.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians score vs. Royals. Cleveland rests starters in regular-season finale

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