A day that looked like it might finally deliver Tanner Bibee his first win of the season turned into something else entirely in the seventh inning at Progressive Field.
The Cleveland Guardians dropped the rubber match of their three-game series against the Boston Red Sox on Sunday afternoon, falling 9-4 in a game that will be remembered more for how it ended than how it was played for the first six innings. The loss sends Cleveland into their off day Monday, sitting at 34-27 and still leading the AL Central.
The organization summed up the mood with a single line after the final out.
“Much needed off day tomorrow. #GuardsBall,” Guardians posted.
Much needed off day tomorrow.#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/i9nwpDOVMB
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) May 31, 2026
The afternoon started with genuine promise. Bibee surrendered a leadoff home run to Jarren Duran on the fifth pitch of the game, his fourth leadoff blast allowed this season and third in his last five starts, but then settled in and retired nine of the next ten hitters he faced. He navigated a difficult fifth inning when Boston briefly grabbed a 3-2 lead, keeping the Guardians close enough to compete deep into the game. Through six innings, Bibee allowed 3 earned runs on 6 hits while striking out 5 and walking 1. It was one of his better outings in recent weeks and deserved a better outcome.
Cleveland did their part offensively to give him a chance to win. Austin Hedges delivered a two run single in the second inning, staking the Guardians to an early lead.
The Guardians carried a 4-3 lead into the seventh inning. That is when everything came apart.
Boston sent 10 batters to the plate in the inning and scored 6 runs, turning a one-run Cleveland lead into a five-run deficit in the span of a few devastating minutes.
The bullpen numbers entering Sunday told the story of a relief corps that had been one of the best in baseball since mid-April, carrying a 2.58 ERA since mid-April. Two consecutive games of significant late-inning damage have put that sterling reputation under pressure heading into June.
On the offensive side, David Fry went 3-4 with a run scored, Brayan Rocchio went 2-4 with a run scored, and DeLauter went 3-5 with an RBI. Travis Bazzana had one of his quieter days, going 0-5, while Kyle Manzardo went 0-3 and Stuart Fairchild went 0-3 in center field.
The Guardians get Monday off before opening a three-game series in the Bronx against the New York Yankees on Tuesday. Joey Cantillo takes the mound for Cleveland against Cameron Schlittler, who enters at 7-2 with a 1.50 ERA for New York.
A much needed off day. Then back to work in New York.
NEXT: Former Guardians Pitcher Is Heading Back To The White Sox
