The Cleveland Guardians entered the eighth inning of Monday’s opener against the Tampa Bay Rays holding on to a one-run lead, but reliever Hunter Gaddis didn’t have it, and his ineffectiveness resulted in a 3-2 loss.
Things got interesting in the ninth when Kyle Manzardo singled with one out and Chase DeLauter followed with a double, but pinch-hitter George Valera and Daniel Schneemann both struck out swinging to strand the two runners in scoring position and end the game.
The defeat leaves the Guardians’ record at 15-15, which bumps them from first place in the AL Central. The Detroit Tigers, at 15-14, now hold that position.
It’s Cleveland’s third straight loss, which doesn’t bode well for the team after losing two straight series against Houston and Toronto.
To tomorrow we go.#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/0ZZ5Vt7M83
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) April 28, 2026
Rays starter Steven Matz and Guardians rookie sensation Parker Messick traded zeroes for the first four frames. Cleveland scored first in the bottom of the fifth, when the red-hot Schneemann socked his fourth homer of the season and drove in David Fry in the process.
Ryan Vilade drove in Yandy Diaz with a single in the top of the sixth to cut the Guardians’ lead to just one run. That’s when Cleveland’s manager Stephen Vogt took out Messick, who left the game after 5.2 solid innings.
The left-hander surrendered just the one run on three hits and two walks, striking out nine Rays. He ended up with a no-decision, and his ERA for the year now stands at 1.73.
Gaddis entered the game in the seventh frame and retired the only hitter he faced, Diaz, on a groundout. Vogt decided to bring him in to open the eighth, too, but that didn’t go well. Jonathan Aranda immediately homered off him to tie the game at two runs apiece and, a few batters later, Vilade singled in Richie Palacios for Tampa’s third and final run.
It was another frustrating night on offense for Cleveland, as they only mustered six hits and two walks against the Rays’ pitching staff. Only two of them, Schneemann’s home run and DeLauter’s late double, went for extra bases.
The Guardians will play again on Tuesday at Progressive Field, starting at 6:10 pm ET. Nick Martinez will pitch for Tampa, with Tanner Bibee (0-3, 4.45 ERA) taking the ball for the home team, hoping for a rebound.
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