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Cleveland Guardians vs. Kansas City Royals recap; Guards regain AL Central lead with win
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- Cleveland Guardians vs. Kansas City Royals recap; Guards regain AL Central lead with win
CLEVELAND — The lead is down to zero entering Wednesday.
The Guardians have watched their divisional lead over the Royals evaporate heading into Wednesday's series finale at Progressive Field . Losses in both games of Monday's doubleheader and T uesday's rain-delayed game has Cleveland and Kansas City tied atop the American League Central, though the Royals would have the tiebreaker.
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It sets up roughly a five-week race for the division, with the Twins also lurking a few games behind the front runners.
Check back here for live score updates, analysis and highlights from Wednesday's game.
Guardians beat the Royals, again take lead in AL Central standings
Emmanuel Clase earned this league-leading 39th save in the ninth, and the Guardians have beaten the Royals 7-5. Cleveland now has a one-game lead in the division heading into an off day tomorrow.
Guardians lead entering ninth inning
Andres Gimenez brought home a run in the eighth via a sacrifice fly to score Lane Thomas , and the Guardians have a 7-5 lead entering the ninth inning.
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Emmanuel Clase — an AL Cy Young candidate — is entering the game.
Andres Gimenez makes incredible catch, takes a bow; watch the video
He deserved that bow.
Andres Gimenez made an incredible catch to rob Fermin of a hit, leaping to his right behind second base.
Gimenez received a standing ovation and took a bow on the field. And considering Fermin would have been the tying run at first base, that was a key play in addition to being a highlight.
Jhonkensy Noel RBI single puts Guardians ahead vs. Royals
This entire game has been nicely placed singles by the Guardians, and they now have the lead.
Jhonkensy Noel had a single fall in front of left fielder MJ Melendez , and the Guardians have a 6-5 lead via a four-run seventh inning.
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Considering how this entire series was trending, that's probably one of the Guardians' best rallies of the season.
Aug 28, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians right fielder Jhonkensy Noel (43) celebrates after scoring during the fifth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Will Brennan ties it with RBI single; Guardians, Royals deadlocked in seventh inning
The Guardians have punched back.
After David Fry flew out for the second out of the inning, Will Brennan fought off a single up the middle to tie it 5-5 in the seventh inning, in which the Guardians have a three-run frame.
Jhonkensy Noel will have a chance to give Cleveland the lead.
Josh Naylor RBI single makes it a one-run score; Guardians, Royals in seventh inning
Once again, the Guardians have a perfectly placed bloop hit, as Josh Naylor has made it a 5-4 score in the seventh with an RBI single that fell just in front of center fielder Kyle Isbel .
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David Fry will be up with two runners on and one out.
Aug 28, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians shortstop Daniel Schneemann (10) hits a single during the fifth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Bo Naylor hits home run No. 11 in 2024
Bo Naylor hit the first pitch of the at-bat from Michael Wacha for a solo home run to right field, his 11th home run of the season, to make it a 5-3 score in the seventh inning.
Hunter Gaddis is warming for the Guardians.
Who's winning the Guardians game? Royals continue to add to lead
With Tim Herrin on the mound, the Royals have continued to pile on, with Maikel Garcia adding an RBI single to make it a 5-2 K.C. lead in the sixth.
Eli Morgan is now coming into the game to face Bobby Witt Jr. , and it appears as though the Guardians badly need this upcoming day off to regroup.
Aug 28, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Michael Wacha (52) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Adam Frazier RBI single ends Tanner Bibee 's day; Royals lead Guardians
Tanner Bibee's outing didn't end like he wanted. With runners on the corners, Adam Frazier lined a single back up the middle to extend the Royals' lead to 4-2 in the sixth inning. That prompted manager Stephen Vogt to go to the bullpen. Tim Herrin will be entering the game.
Aug 28, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians second baseman Andres Gimenez (0) is hit by a pitch during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Steven Kwan single makes it one-run score with Royals, Guardians
Any hitter will gladly take a weakly-hit bloop that falls for a single. But for a struggling Guardians lineup, right now they'd accept that result in a much more eagerly fashion.
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With two runners on, Steven Kwan blooped a ball down the left-field line. Bobby Witt Jr. got his glove on it, but he couldn't quite catch it, allowing Jhonkensy Noel to score from third and make the score 3-2 in the fifth inning.
Jose Ramirez then grounded out to end the inning, leaving the Guardians down one run heading to the sixth with Tanner Bibee still on the mound.
Bobby Witt Jr. blasts home run; Royals-Guardians score update
Bobby Witt Jr. has hit home run No. 28 for the season, and the Royals have three homers in three innings, along with a 3-1 lead against Tanner Bibee and the Guardians.
Aug 28, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Kansas City Royals second baseman Michael Massey (19) forces out Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) during the first inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Guardians cut Royals lead in half; score update
Josh Naylor grounded into a double play, but it was enough to score Andres Gimenez from third, cutting the score to 2-1.
Aug 28, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino (9) hits a home run during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Vinnie Pasquantino hits home run; Royals lead Guardians
After Bobby Witt Jr. struck out (somewhat amazingly, considering his season), Vinnie Pasquantino drilled a solo home run, putting the Royals up 2-0 before the Guardians have come up to bat.
Aug 28, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Kansas City Royals second baseman Michael Massey (19) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Michael Massey leads off Guardians-Royals game with home run
Well, there was a question as to how the Guardians would come out for today's game after losing their divisional lead over the last two days. Four pitches into Wednesday's game, and they're already trailing again.
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Michael Massey just took Tanner Bibee yard for a lead-off home run, and it's 1-0 before many fans have even had a chance to take their seats.
Below is some pregame information.
Aug 26, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Pedro Avila (60) delivers a pitch in the the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
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 .
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 .
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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 .
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.
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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 .
How can I watch, listen or stream the Cleveland Guardians game today?
Today's game will be televised on Bally Sports. It'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
