Brayan Rocchio delivered a tiebreaking RBI single with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning Tuesday afternoon, sending the host Cleveland Guardians to a 2-1 victory against the Kansas City Royals.
Rocchio started 0-for-3 until facing John Schreiber (0-1) with runners at first and second in the ninth, poking a single through the right side. Lane Thomas came up cleanly with Rocchio’s hit but could not throw out CJ Kayfus at the plate.
Kayfus had singled, and Bo Naylor drew a walk to put him in scoring position.
Right-hander Cade Smith (2-0) earned the victory, striking out two in a 1-2-3 ninth. Guardians pitchers limited the Royals to one hit, a solo home run by Carter Jensen in the second inning. Royals batters walked eight times, with seven runners stranded, but struck out 14 times.
The game’s start was moved forward by five hours due to impending frigid weather. While the sun shone at Progressive Field, game-time temperatures hit the lower 30s with wind chills in the 20s.
In his major league debut, Guardians rookie Juan Brito doubled in his first at-bat and finished with two hits. Cleveland promoted him before the game and started him at second base, after placing infielder Gabriel Arias on the injured list due to a strained left hamstring.
Jensen took right-hander Gavin Williams deep in the second for this third homer of the season and his second in two games. Jensen’s homer Monday helped Kansas City win the series opener 4-2.
Williams struck out eight and walked five in 5 2/3 innings.
Left-hander Noah Cameron allowed a run, six hits and a walk to go with five strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings for the Royals.
Steven Kwan lined a two-out RBI single in the fifth to tie the score.
The series concludes Wednesday with another afternoon game. The two sides will face off at 1:10 p.m.
–Field Level Media
