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Cleveland Guardians vs. Kansas City Royals recap; KC takes both games of doubleheader
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- Cleveland Guardians vs. Kansas City Royals recap; KC takes both games of doubleheader
CLEVELAND — They'll play two, and they're two pretty crucial games with the season winding down and the divisional race heating up.
The Guardians and Kansas City Royals will play a split doubleheader Monday at Progressive Field, with the first game beginning at 1:10 p.m. ET and the second game having a first pitch of 6:40 p.m. ET. The day game is a makeup of a June 5 rainout .
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The Guardians will be using an opener for the first time this season in the first game. Nick Sandlin will take the mound for the first few innings, hoping to get through the Royals lineup one time.
Joey Cantillo has been called up as today's 27th man, and Logan Allen has been promoted from Triple-A, so after Sandlin starts Game 1, the Guardians will have plenty of flexibility as to how they get through the day.
The Guardians begin the day with a three-game lead over the Royals and the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central.
Follow along here for live score updates, analysis and highlights through Monday's doubleheader.
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Royals beat Guardians in both games of doubleheaders; Cleveland's lead in standings down to one game
The Royals are now within one game of the Guardians after taking both games of Monday's doubleheader, winning the second game 9-4 largely on Perez's grand slam.
Salvador Perez crushes grand slam
Tim Herrin and the Guardians are so close to getting out of the inning with the bases loaded, but with one swing Salvador Perez has broken the game wide open with a no-doubter of a grand slam to left field, pushing the Royals' lead out to 9-4.
Perez has a career-high six RBIs tonight.
Guardians pitching coach Carl Willis ejected
Guardians pitching coach Carl Willis has been thrown out of the game in the sixth inning after arguing a call with Pedro Avila on the mound.
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Salvador Perez home run gives Royals the lead
And just like that, the Royals are back on top. Salvador Perez drilled a solo home run, as he often has done at Progressive Field over his storied career, and the Royals lead 5-4 in the fifth.
Aug 26, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians third baseman Daniel Schneemann (10) fields a ground ball in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Daniel Schneemann home run ties Guardians-Royals score
Daniel Schnemmann has tied it with a solo home run to right field, making it 4-4 in the fourth.
Royals take the lead in the fourth inning against Logan Allen
With Logan Allen trying to give the Guardians some length, the Royals put two runners on and tied it via Garrett Hampson 's RBI single. Kansas City then took the lead later in the inning on Maikel Garcia 's sacrifice fly, making it 4-3.
Aug 26, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians second baseman Andres Gimenez (0) scores in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Paul DeJong hits home run; Royals cut into Guardians lead
Paul DeJong was one of the top infielders available on the trade market, and he just made the Guardians pay for not dealing for him with a solo home run to left field, cutting Cleveland's lead to 3-1.
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A Bobby Witt Jr. double later put runners in scoring position, which led to a run-scoring groundout off the bat of Salvador Perez that made it 3-2.
Guardians-Royals, second game score update: Cleveland takes three-run lead in the first on wild play
The Guardians have a 3-0 lead on a play that was anything but ordinary.
With two runners on, Jose Ramirez lined a ball into the right-center gap that was nearly caught but couldn't be corralled. During some confusion, Steven Kwan and Andres Gimenez somehow both ended up between third base and home plate as the ball was being thrown into the infield.
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It appeared as though at least one runner might be caught in a rundown, maybe even two, until the ball was bobbled again, allowing both to score and Ramirez to end up on third.
Ramirez then scored via a throwing error, making it a three-run inning.
Guardians lose first game of doubleheader to the Royals
The Guardians have fallen in the first game of today's doubleheader, 4-3. With the potential tying run on first base, Josh Naylor popped out to shallow left field, ending the game.
With that, the Royals pull to within two games of the Guardians in the AL Central. Game 2 is scheduled for 6:40 p.m.
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Bobby Witt Jr. home run gives Royals the lead in eighth inning
Bobby Witt Jr. is headed for at least an MVP finalist season, and he just drilled a solo home run off Hunter Gaddis to give the Royals back the lead, 4-3, in the eighth inning.
After Nick Sandlin opened the game by pitching the first inning, Eli Morgan , Scott Barlow and Connor Gillispie all threw two innings, leading to Gaddis in the eighth.
Aug 26, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Kansas City Royals second baseman Michael Massey (19) forces out Cleveland Guardians center fielder Lane Thomas (8) during the first inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Josh Naylor drives in Jose Ramirez to tie it; Guardians-Royals score update
Jose Ramirez reached third base, forcing the Royals to bring the infield in, and Josh Naylor hit a weekly-hit single that found some space to tie it 3-3 in the seventh inning.
Guardians shortstop Tyler Freeman celebrates after scoring during the second inning against the Kansas City Royals, Aug. 26, 2024, in Cleveland.
MJ Melendez makes highlight reel catch to save at least one run; Watch the video
MJ Melendez is having himself a day.
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In addition to this three-run home run, Melendez just made a fantastic diving catch in left field that has saved at least one run in the fifth inning.
Cole Ragans injury: Starter exits game with calf, hamstring cramping
Royals starter Cole Ragans has left the game after 94 pitches with left calf and hamstring cramping, according to a press box announcement.
Ragans was seen by a medical trainer on the field before walking off and leaving the game.
Aug 26, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Kansas City Royals left fielder MJ Melendez (1) celebrates with catcher Salvador Perez (13) and designated hitter Freddy Fermin (34) after hitting a home run during the fourth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
MJ Melendez home run barely clears wall, gives Royals first lead against Guardians
MJ Melendez has given the Royals the lead — just barely.
Melendez, facing Eli Morgan with two runners on, drove a home run that just barely cleared the right-field wall. There was some confusion on the field, as it looked as though the ball hit the yellow line at the top of the wall, but a review confirmed that it first hit the railing just above it.
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The Royals are up 3-2 in the fourth inning.
Aug 26, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans (55) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Guardians take lead over Royals in second
With the bases loaded, Steven Kwan drew a walk to give the Guardians a 1-0 lead, and Tyler Freeman scored via a passed ball by Royals catcher Salvador Perez, putting Cleveland up 2-0.
Aug 26, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians pitcher Nick Sandlin (52) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Nick Sandlin pitches scoreless first inning
Nick Sandlin, pitching as an opener today, gave up two walks but also recorded two strikeouts to get through the first inning without allowing any damage.
Aug 25, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) steals third base during the third inning against the Texas Rangers at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Below is some pregame information.
Could the Guardians add Triston McKenzie , Myles Straw , other veterans to September roster?
The Guardians will soon have some decisions to make when rosters expand Sept. 1. Here are five veterans who might make the trip back to the big leagues to help in the AL Central race .
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Jose Ramirez has 30/30 season in 2024
Jose Ramirez became the first Cleveland hitter in franchise history with multiple 30/30 seasons.
Watch: Machine Gun Kelly throws out first pitch at Guardians-Cubs game
MGK tossed the ceremonial first pitch, but he did so in an interesting manner that was anything but traditional .
Jhonkensy Noel 's renewed approach on putting the ball in play has led to breakout 2024 season
Jhonkensy knows he has the power. It took a new focus on contact and mobility to lead to his great rookie season thus far.
Guardians name CC Sabathia to team Hall-of-Fame
CC Sabathia is now in the Guardians' Hall-of-Fame, and he offered a two-part message to Cleveland fans .
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Guardians No. 1 overall draft pick Travis Bazzana meets Jose Ramirez, wants to grow the game in Australia
It all finally sank in for Travis Bazzana , the top overall draft pick in the draft, when he stepped onto the field at Progressive Field and met Jose Ramirez and others.
Cleveland Guardians 2025 schedule
Major League Baseball released the 2025 schedules .
2024 National Sports Card Convention comes to Cleveland
The National Sports Card Convention was in Cleveland recently. We broke down how we'd spend $100 , ranked the most mind-blowing items we could find and listed the top collectibles for under $50 .
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How can I watch, listen or stream the Cleveland Guardians game today?
Both games will be televised on Bally Sports. They'll be broadcast on the radio by WTAM (1100-AM) and WMMS (100.7-FM).
Guardians schedule
The Guardians face the Royals for four games at Progressive Field before the Pittsburgh Pirates come to Cleveland for a weekend series.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Guardians score today vs. Kansas City Royals in doubleheder
