The Cleveland Guardians wasted no time in reaching a historic milestone as soon as it was in their grasp. Not only was it dramatic, but it also put them back in first place in the AL Central.
After earning a walk-off win against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday in the opener of their four-game series, the Guardians did it again on Friday, when Khalil Watson’s 10th-inning RBI single gave them a 4-3 victory. It was Cleveland’s third walk-off win of the season, but it was an even bigger number than that.
The Guardians reached a historic walk-off milestone at Progressive Field, recording the 250th such victory at the venue, fittingly coming on this July 4th weekend.
“On the eve of America’s 250th birthday, Kahlil Watson delivers CLE’s 250th walk-off plate appearance in Jacobs/Progressive Field history. The 250 walk-off plate appearances lead all active ballparks since 1994, trailing only Oakland Coliseum (258),” Luke Potosky posted.
On the eve of America’s 250th birthday, Kahlil Watson delivers CLE’s 250th walk-off plate appearance in Jacobs/Progressive Field history.
The 250 walk-off plate appearances lead all active ballparks since 1994, trailing only Oakland Coliseum (258).#GuardsBall | @CleGuardians pic.twitter.com/5mSJnpi6sM
— Luke Potosky (@LukePotosky) July 4, 2026
The Guardians last earned back-to-back walk-off wins on Sept. 27 and 28 against the Texas Rangers, which were the final two regular-season games of 2025. It gave them nine total walk-off victories for the year and helped them clinch the AL Central title after overcoming a historic deficit in the standings.
They also had a walk-off win on April 7 of this year, when Brayan Rocchio’s ninth-inning single gave them a 2-1 triumph against the Kansas City Royals. Rocchio also hit the two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth that gave the Guardians a 6-5 win on Thursday.
On Friday, after an almost two-hour rain delay, Cleveland tied the game 3-3 with two runs in the seventh inning. In the 10th, a single by Travis Bazzana moved automatic runner Steven Kwan to third base. Watson followed with an RBI single up the middle, which was his first MLB walk-off hit in his 15th career game.
The victory pushed the Guardians one game ahead of the White Sox in the division. The teams have played five times this season, with each game decided by one run. Cleveland has won the past three after losing the first two meetings at Chicago’s Rate Field.
With another game set for Saturday night, there may be even more fireworks in store.
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