The Cleveland Guardians won the game and the series against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday, beating them 6-1 behind big performances from the two players they added in the roster expansion: Kyle Manzardo and Alex Cobb.
Cobb took a perfect game into the seventh inning and ended up contributing six strong innings of one run (none earned), two hits, no walks, and six strikeouts.
He was making his return from a fractured fingernail and showed that the injury was no longer an issue.
He lost the perfect game after Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit an infield single in the seventh, and the run was scored after he left the game on an error.
The other player added to the Guardians’ active roster, Manzardo, hit not one, but two home runs to lift his team to the win.
“Not satisfied with hitting his first career home run, Kyle Manzardo now has his first career multi-HR game!” MLB tweeted.
Not satisfied with hitting his first career home run, Kyle Manzardo now has his first career multi-HR game! pic.twitter.com/2FzYA7F2rj
— MLB (@MLB) September 1, 2024
Manzardo was hitting an incredible .267/.398/.548 with 20 homers and a 142 wRC+ in Triple-A, so he definitely deserved his chance.
The rookie first baseman went yard in the fourth and sixth frames to give his team two valuable runs.
Before that, Andres Gimenez hit a home run in the first inning and Jose Ramirez went deep for the 34th time this season in the seventh.
Cade Smith, Hunter Gaddis, and Tim Herrin took care of the seventh, eighth, and ninth inning respectively, as the Guards notched their 78th win of the year.
The Kansas City Royals lost and that means Cleveland is now up 3.5 games in the AL Central.
The Minnesota Twins did win and remain in a tie with the Royals.
NEXT: AL Central Remains Up For Grabs As MLB Enters Final Month
