After flirting with it for at least a few days, it has finally happened: the Cleveland Guardians have officially sealed their ticket to the 2024 MLB postseason.
BOOK IT!
THE GUARDIANS ARE WALKIN' OFF INTO THE POSTSEASON!#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/ztaoKle0ZA
— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) September 19, 2024
They entered the field on Thursday with their magic number at one, so all they needed was a win against the Minnesota Twins and they would be in.
They got it in dramatic fashion, thanks to an Andrés Giménez walk-off single in the bottom of the tenth.
Andres Gimenez sends Cleveland to the playoffs! pic.twitter.com/98LOqd3XyH
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) September 19, 2024
The second baseman hit a line-drive to right field against Caleb Thielbar in the bottom of the tenth that fell for a hit, driving in Jose Ramirez with the run that certified Cleveland’s return to October baseball after a one-year hiatus.
Kyle Manzardo set the tone in the bottom of the first frame with a solo home run from the second spot of the lineup.
Guardians starter Joey Cantillo held Minnesota scoreless in the first four innings, but conceded a two-run double to Manny Margot in the fifth that signaled his departure.
That was all the Twins would produce offensively, though: Cleveland’s bullpen, as it usually does, took over and didn’t allow any more runs.
Nick Sandlin, Tim Herrin, Andrew Walters, Hunter Gaddis, Emmanuel Clase and Eli Morgan would cruise and dominate from that point, giving the offense a true shot to come back in the score.
And it did.
A sac fly by Brayan Rocchio scored Josh Naylor to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth, paving the way for Giménez’s heroics a few frames later.
Next up for the Guardians is trying to secure the AL Central, a first-round bye and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
The first one is probably a formality, the second one is possible (even likely), and the third one would be the hardest, although definitely in the cards.
This team is special and it proves it every game.
NEXT: Guardians Successful Campaign Extends To Their Minor League Teams
