In a sloppy game that included four errors, game-tying moments, a go-ahead homer, and more exciting, yet chaotic things, the Cleveland Guardians lost 7-5 to the New York Yankees at Progressive Field in extra innings.
Cleveland is now 37-31, still in command of the AL Central, but the loss stings because they had several chances to seal the deal. For starters, the Yankees entered the game with lots of players on the injured list, including Aaron Judge. Then, when the action started, the Guardians let the game slip away in the little details, such as going 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
Got another one tomorrow.#GuardsBall | #VoteGuards pic.twitter.com/OESMsEfIal
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) June 9, 2026
Starter Gavin Williams wasn’t at his best on Monday, but he kept the Yankees to four runs (three earned) while completing five innings. He gave up four hits (including two homers) and walked three, striking out five.
The Yankees were the first ones to score. Williams issued a one-out walk to Ben Rice, and Paul Goldschmidt made him pay with a two-run homer in the opening frame.
In the top of the third, Cody Bellinger grounded into a force out, and Trent Grisham scored the third run of the night for the Yankees, aided by a throwing error by shortstop Brayan Rocchio.
The Guardians would respond with a three-run third to tie the game. Steven Kwan walked, and Patrick Bailey doubled to put runners in scoring position with no outs against Yankees starter Will Warren.
Then. Kwan came around to score on a wild pitch by Warren, with Bailey taking third base and later crossing home plate with Cleveland’s second run after a fielder’s choice. Travis Bazzana gave away the second out of the inning on a grounder to first.
Just when it looked like the threat was over, Jose Ramirez and Chase DeLauter hit consecutive singles to put runners in the corners. Kyle Manzardo then hit a sharp grounder up the middle that Yankees’ shortstop Jose Caballero couldn’t field, allowing J-Ram to tie the game.
In the fifth, Ryan McMahon hit a solo blast that gave the Yankees a narrow 4-3 lead, but it would only last until the sixth frame. There, Angel Martinez hit a go-ahead two-run shot off reliever Paul Blackburn.
After solid relief appearances by Colin Holderman and Tim Herrin, Hunter Gaddis allowed the Yanks to tie the game in the eighth. With runners in the corners, Goldschmidt grounded into a force out. Trent Grisham scored in the play.
Rocchio saved the potential go-ahead run for New York in that frame, with a slick inning-ending double-play:
¡Qué jugada de Rocchio!
El venezolano se luce a la defensiva en el 8vo.#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/tTKY1Lt5El
— Los Guardians (@LosGuardians) June 9, 2026
The game reached extra innings, where Cody Bellinger hit a two-run single in the top of the tenth to give New York full control through a 7-5 lead against Shawn Armstrong.
Cleveland’s leadoff hitter in the bottom of the tenth, Martinez, walked to put two men on (himself and the ‘ghost’ runner) with no outs, but Kwan, Bailey, and Rocchio all failed to bring them home against Yankees’ closer David Bednar.
Bailey and Rocchio combined to contribute four hits at the bottom of the lineup. Martinez became the first Guardians hitter to reach 10 homers in the 2026 campaign. Too bad it couldn’t result in a win.
The series will continue on Tuesday, with Gerrit Cole and Slade Cecconi taking the mound.
NEXT: Analyst Calls Guardians Pitcher A 'Tough Luck' Starter
