TORONTO -- For the second straight game, the Guardians found themselves down to the final out.
A day prior, Cleveland rallied with a ninth-inning grand slam. In the ninth inning of Sunday’s 5-4 win against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre, the goal was different: protect the lead at all costs. Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase stalked the mound, eager to string together back-to-back strong outings after earning the save Saturday.
The outing didn’t start well. Andrés Giménez chopped a ball to the mound, and Clase fumbled it. The right-hander rushed his throw to first, sailing the throw to the fence and allowing Giménez to take second. Rogers Centre roared as Clase’s error put the Guards’ two-run lead in jeopardy.
A single from Bo Bichette put the tying run aboard as a familiar narrative played out. Clase has not been himself this season. He entered Sunday with a 6.28 ERA and two blown saves. But nobody in the Guardians' dugout flinched, even as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. The right man was on the mound.
“[There is] no one else on the planet I’d rather have on the mound in the ninth inning,” said manager Stephen Vogt, expressing his confidence in his closer.
Clase held strong, proving his manager right. Bichette got as far as third base before Clase shut the door, uncorking a nasty slider to get George Springer chasing out of the zone for the final out. The home crowd’s energy deflated as Clase celebrated his seventh save of the year.
The gutsy bullpen effort became essential at the start of the sixth inning when starter Tanner Bibee departed with cramps in both legs. The 26-year-old allowed three runs (two earned) over five solid innings before the issue forced him out of the game.
The lower-body cramps aren’t new for Bibee, who exited a game last July with a similar issue and has battled this occasional discomfort since college. Vogt speculated that the humidity inside the Rogers Centre’s domed stadium could’ve caused the problem.
“The medical staff is on [Bibee’s injury] and has been for the last year,” Vogt said, adding that he doesn’t expect Bibee to miss his next start. “It's more humid here. It’s the first time we've really played in some heavy humidity.”
The Guardians didn’t waver when Bibee departed. Left-hander Tim Herrin took over for Bibee, and the ‘pen went to work, culminating in Clase’s gritty save.
“It speaks to the mentality of the bullpen that's shared by the guys down there,” said Cade Smith, who pitched a scoreless seventh inning. “Whenever the phone rings … we're ready to go.”
Infielder Gabriel Arias led the charge on offense for Cleveland. The 25-year-old has made the most of some added playing time this season, adding some extra thump to an already balanced offensive profile.
Arias finished Sunday’s game with three singles, chipping in two big RBIs in a three-run fourth inning that gave Cleveland an early lead. He said a new mentality has opened up his game in 2025.
“The key is the focus, both on the field and off the field,” Arias said through an interpreter. “And obviously that’s what allows me to contribute to the team.”
Daniel Schneemann kept his hot streak going, too. Fresh off a go-ahead grand slam in the ninth inning on Saturday, the 28-year-old laced an RBI double in the fourth. And, as usual, leadoff man Steven Kwan was in the mix, picking up two hits, a walk and an RBI.
Once again, the Guardians pushed through late-inning drama and came out on top, securing a key road series win in Toronto. Ask anyone in the clubhouse, and they’ll tell you this team doesn’t mind tight finishes. In fact, Cleveland thrives in those moments.
“That’s our style of game,” said Arias. “We’ve got to play the 27 outs, and that’s what we did today.”