Six Walks, Five Runs, One Big Step: How Cleveland Stole a Win in Kansas City

Cleveland scored five runs in the ninth inning Friday night, and the Royals' bullpen did most of the work for them.

It was 7-7 when Nate Pearson walked Nathaniel Lowe on four pitches to start the inning. After a flyout, he walked pinch-hitter Patrick Bailey and Brayan Rocchio on four pitches each. A forceout at home, and then José Ramírez walked to force in the go-ahead run. Nolan Hoffman came in and walked Chase DeLauter and Petey Halpin, two more runs, before Angel Martínez doubled in two to make it 12-7. The Guardians won 12-9.

Kansas City had come back to tie it in the eighth when rookie Carter Jensen hit his second homer of the night, a two-run shot off Hunter Gaddis. Jensen finished with five RBIs and now has 27 home runs. Salvador Perez added a two-run homer in the ninth. Austin Hedges and David Fry homered for Cleveland.

Update: division clinched

The win kept Cleveland a game ahead of the White Sox with two to play, and the Guardians finished it off the next night, beating the Royals 11-5 on Saturday for their third straight AL Central title and the No. 2 seed in the American League.