Right-hander Slade Cecconi had a rare good start on Thursday afternoon and led the way for the Cleveland Guardians to earn another victory, this time 8-5, against the Kansas City Royals. The offense, under a lot of heat for its recent performances, did more than enough to support the starter.
The dagger, for Cleveland, came courtesy of a three-run home run by the struggling Bo Naylor in the seventh inning. It ended up being the difference, since the Guardians won by three.
After taking the finale, the Guardians managed to tie the four-game series after losing the first two. They are now 20-19 on the season and are still at the top of the AL Central.
Stole the last two in KC!#GuardsBall | #GuardiWWins pic.twitter.com/0JY0w4A4M3
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) May 7, 2026
Cecconi gave the Guardians 5.1 solid innings, surrendering a single run on six hits and three walks. He struck out three to leave his ERA at a still-mediocre 5.93. He was far from perfect, but at least he was able to limit the damage.
The Guardians opened the scoring in the first inning. Kyle Manzardo found Steven Kwan and Jose Ramirez on base with one out, and he ripped a double that brought both home to give his team a quick 2-0 lead. An RBI single by Daniel Schneemann plated Manzardo for the third run.
Schneemann would score Cleveland’s fourth run in the third inning, thanks to a Petey Halpin single. Maikel Garcia drove in Michael Massey with a single in the bottom of the fifth to make it 4-1, with Cleveland still ahead.
Halpin took advantage of a passed ball to bring the fifth run for the Guardians in the top of the sixth, but the Royals would retaliate in the bottom of that inning.
Carter Jensen scored on a Nick Loftin sac fly to put the game 5-2, but Travis Bazzana and Naylor would put on a show in the seventh. The rookie second baseman walked, stole second, and then executed a double steal after Brayan Rocchio worked a walk, taking third base. Both of them would cross home plate jogging after Naylor’s three-run blast.
Bo gets into one to pad the lead!#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/mYjGIsRogp
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) May 7, 2026
Naylor is still heating a horrible .143 with a .438 OPS even after the 2-for-5 day, but this was definitely a step in the right direction.
With the game 8-2 Cleveland, the Guardians’ bullpen made things interesting with Connor Brogdon allowing two runs, and the struggling Hunter Gaddis, whose season ERA is up to a ghastly 9.00, surrendered another one. Erik Sabrowski had to come and get out of the mess, striking out Vinnie Pasquantino to end the eighth and strand two runners.
The resurgent Cade Smith took care of business in the ninth to earn the save.
The Guardians will return home to face the Minnesota Twins over the weekend.
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