The Cleveland Guardians had to fight, and it looked like a lost cause at one point, but they managed to beat the Kansas City Royals 12-9 on Friday night at Kauffman Stadium to improve to 84-76 and remain at the top of the AL Central. The Chicago White Sox keep winning and putting pressure, but Stephen Vogt and his men are not going to relinquish the division lead easily.
Both teams have made the postseason already, but taking the AL Central represents a chance to enter the playoffs directly in the Division Series rather than risking elimination in the Wild Card round. That’s why the Guardians and White Sox are still playing meaningful games.
On Friday, the Guardians had nine hits, yet they scored 12 runs. Usually, the hit tally is higher than the run total.
What happened, then? Well, it was a combination of factors. It helped that Guardians hitters racked up six extra-base hits: four doubles and two home runs. However, most of the damage came slowly but steadily, by exercising patience.
“Most walks for Cleveland in a 9-inning game (13), since they walked 14 times against the Blue Jays on 9/9/79 at the old Stadium,” Al Pawlowski reported.
Most walks for Cleveland in a 9-inning game (13), since they walked 14 times against the Blue Jays on 9/9/79 at the old Stadium.
— Al Pawlowski (@AlPawlowski) September 26, 2026
The Guardians let the Royals’ pitching staff lose the game themselves, and they succeeded. The best, for Cleveland, came in the ninth inning, when the home team issued six walks, including two with the bases loaded, and that allowed the Guards to break the 7-7 tie.
With so much at stake, the Guardians were patient and strong enough mentally to seize the moment and turn the Royals’ control issues into some key runs. Cleveland might not have power hitters from top to bottom, but most of their batters are willing to wait for the right pitch and, if it doesn’t come, take a base.
Cleveland’s 9.4 percent walk rate is the eighth-best in MLB, and fifth-best in the American League. They are patient, and they know the strike zone. The formula worked against the Royals, and that’s all that matters at this point.
Two more wins, and Cleveland will have home-field advantage in a best-of-five AL Division Series.
NEXT: One Pitcher Could Emerge As Guardians' Potential Postseason Star
