Jose Ramirez and Travis Bazzana each hit a key home run, and Joey Cantillo tossed a phenomenal game as a bulk reliever in the Cleveland Guardians’ 5-3 win over the Athletics on Friday night at Progressive Field. With the victory, their record improved to 79-75, keeping pace with the Chicago White Sox at the top of the AL Central.
The solo homer in the sixth inning gave Ramirez his 1000th career RBI. Perhaps more importantly, it proves that he is slowly starting to get hot, and he couldn’t be doing it at a better time for Cleveland. Manager Stephen Vogt trusts him, and he is repaying that with big performances this week.
Big win in front of a sold-out crowd. Can't beat it.#GuardsBall | #GuardiWWWins pic.twitter.com/yD8W8ZxEJa
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) September 19, 2026
Daniel Espino allowed three runs as the Guardians’ opener, but Cantillo saved the day with a brilliant relief appearance. He tossed six scoreless frames and conceded just two hits and a walk, striking out five and lowering his ERA to a rock-solid 3.74. It was his finest performance of the year, and it came in a key game.
The game got off to a nightmarish start for Cleveland, though. Espino walked two of the first three batters he faced, and then surrendered a three-run shot to Zack Gelof to give the Athletics a 3-0 lead in the very first inning.
Resilience, however, is the Guardians’ middle name. They started to work their way back and finally broke through in the fourth.
Patrick Bailey and Petey Halpin opened that frame with consecutive singles, setting up the scene for Brayan Rocchio’s two-run double that cut the Guardians’ deficit to just one run. Steven Kwan then struck out, but Ramirez came through with a game-tying single, plating Rocchio and making it a 3-3 ballgame.
Travis Bazzana continued his hot streak and belted a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth to put Cleveland ahead for the first time in the night. An inning later, it was J-Ram’s turn to leave the yard, and his solo homer gave the Guardians a two-run lead.
You know, bro.#GuardsBall | #StandGuard pic.twitter.com/sevjCokxfy
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) September 19, 2026
Hunter Gaddis pitched a perfect eighth and notched his 30th hold of the year, and Cade Smith was also lights-out in the ninth to earn his 38th save.
Ramirez had an incredible game, going 2-for-5 with the homer, a run scored, two RBI, and a stolen base. Bazzana also left the yard, and Rocchio went 2-for-3 with a run scored, two RBI, a walk, and a steal.
The series will continue on Saturday, with the second game scheduled for 6:10 pm ET at Progressive Field. Jacob Lopez will toe the rubber for the visitors, with Tanner Bibee taking the ball for the home club.
NEXT: Former MLB Player Credits Guardians Legend For A Lasting Lesson
