Tyler Freeman had three RBIs against his former team and Hunter Goodman homered and drove in two runs over the last two innings, giving the visiting Colorado Rockies a wild 8-6 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Monday night.
Rookie Warming Bernabel homered for the second game in a row for Colorado, which scored four times in the ninth to erase a 5-4 deficit against Cade Smith (2-4), who retired one batter and gave up four runs, one earned.
Bernabel also scored the tying run, thanks to a throwing error by Smith on Brenton Doyle’s attempted sacrifice bunt with none out. Mickey Moniak tacked on a sacrifice fly against Tim Herrin after Smith was pulled.
Tyler Kinley (1-3) was the winner and Seth Halvorsen gave up one run in the ninth on Nolan Jones’ RBI single for his 11th save. Colorado used five pitchers, beginning with Bradley Blalock, who threw six shutout frames.
Smith was closing because Emmanuel Clase was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave by the league, under suspicion of gambling. Guardians starter Luis Ortiz was already taken off their roster for the same reason.
Cleveland had scored five times in the seventh to go in front 5-3. Bo Naylor’s three-run, pinch-hit homer off Jake Bird was the equalizer, while Carlos Santana drew a bases-loaded walk and Daniel Schneemann had an RBI single.
Blalock struck out a career-high seven in his longest outing in the majors. The right-hander scattered six hits without issuing a walk, but was denied a second win in a row by his bullpen.
Guardians starter Slade Cecconi gave up three runs on six hits in seven innings. The right-hander struck out three and walked two, leaving with a 5-3 lead.
Santana, a prime trade candidate, stepped on the foot of Orlando Arcia while tagging him out near home plate in the fourth. Santana was examined by a trainer, but remained in the game.
The first pitch was delayed by 2 hours and 30 minutes because of steady rain.
–Field Level Media
