Timing is everything. Especially if you are CJ Kayfus.
In Sunday’s doubleheader against the Cubs at Progressive Field, Kayfus played the role of rescuer twice in the same afternoon. In the first game, he prevented the Guardians from being no-hit with a sixth-inning double for their only hit of the game. In the second game, he prevented them from being swept with a game-tying home run in the eighth inning that sparked a comeback win. Cleveland fell 1-0 in the opener but rallied for a 6-5 victory in the nightcap to earn a split on a cold and damp Easter Sunday.
The Guardians never quit and take the series with the Cubs#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/JiyRUM3Xw8
— SleeperGuardians (@SleeperGuards) April 5, 2026
Parker Messick took the ball for the nightcap and ran into early trouble when Matt Shaw led off the second inning with a home run to put Chicago ahead. Steven Kwan kept it from getting worse with a nice catch against the center field wall to rob Alex Bregman of extra bases, but the Guardians found themselves chasing Shota Imanaga for most of the afternoon.
Cleveland #Guardians OF Steven Kwan makes a tremendous catch in center field during the 3rd inning of game two of today's doubleheader vs the Cubs.#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/dXUOP6f5zA
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) April 5, 2026
The Cubs lefty held Cleveland to three hits through five innings, retiring 10 of 11 batters at one point before Dansby Swanson put Chicago up 3 to 0 with a two-run homer off Matt Festa in the sixth.
Steven Kwan started the seventh inning rally with a double past first base that chased Imanaga. Ben Brown came on in relief, walked Angel Martinez, and Kayfus singled to right center to score Kwan and make it 3-1. Chase DeLauter followed with a sacrifice fly to score Martinez, and Gabriel Arias sent a 3-2 pitch through the middle to tie it at 3-3. Just like that, the game was even.
When Happ went deep in the eighth to put Chicago back ahead, it felt like the kind of moment that could deflate a team. Instead, Kayfus answered again, homering in the eighth with one out to tie the score at 4-4.
The CJ Kayfus Game.#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/fg9FK70pfO
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) April 5, 2026
The Guardians then added two more runs on singles by Gabriel Arias and Austin Hedges to take the lead for good. Cade Smith allowed a run in the ninth but earned his third save in four chances to close it out.
Arias comes through again!
Cleveland #Guardians (SS) Gabriel Arias gives the team a 5-to-4 lead on an RBI base hit 111.6 mph off the bat in the 8th inning vs the Cubs.#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/JQirg368Si
— Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) April 5, 2026
Kayfus finished the second game 2-2 with two runs scored, two RBI, and the home run that changed everything.
Messick was solid in his second start of the season, allowing just one run over five innings with six strikeouts. Through two outings he has now allowed just one run across 11 innings with 11 strikeouts.
NEXT: Guardians Manage One Hit In Sunday's Loss To Cubs
