CLEVELAND —Thefirst-place Guardianshosted the second-place Kansas City Royals on Thursday afternoon in a matchup of the American League Central Division's top teams.
Coming off Wednesday's postponed game, Tanner Bibee started for Cleveland and the Guardians lost for just the second time in his 13 starts this season as the Royals rallied for a one-run win.
Here's how the game unfolded through our live updates Thursday afternoon.
Kansas City Royals win 4-3 over Cleveland Guardians
James McArthur worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning and the Royals win 4-3 to split the two-game series.
Kansas City Royals take 4-3 lead over Cleveland Guardians in eighth inning
Hunter Gaddis entered to pitch in the eighth inning and allowed a run with two outs that have the Royals a 4-3 lead.
Adam Frazier doubled down the right field line with two outs and scored when Kyle Isbel hit a single to right.
Cleveland Guardians and Kansas City Royals tied at 3-3 through seven innings
The Guardians and the Royals are tied 3-3 through seven innings.
Tyler Freeman and David Fry pinch-hit in the sixth for Bo Naylor and Brayan Rocchio, respectively, and remained in the game in center field and at catcher. Daniel Schneemann moved from center to shortstop.
Vinnie Pasquantino hit a one-out double and Cade Smith drilled Salvador Perez with a pitch. Smith regrouped and got Freddy Fermin to hit into a 6-4-3 double play that involved Schneemann, Andrés Giménez and Josh Naylor.
Kansas City Royals score two runs to tie Cleveland Guardians 3-3 in sixth inning
The Royals scored two runs in the sixth inning to draw even at 3-3.
Freddy Fermin singled and MJ Melendez walked to start the sixth, and Tanner Bibee exited the game.
Nick Sandlin entered in relief and allowed a double down the left field line to Hunter Renfroe that scored Fermin. Melendez scored on a fielder's choice when he slid home on a Kyle Isbel ground ball to first baseman Josh Naylor. The elder Naylor threw the ball to his brother, catcher Bo Naylor, but Melendez was safe after video review.
Cade Smith relieved Sandlin and got a 5-4-3 double play that involved José Ramírez, Andrés Giménez and Josh Naylor to end the inning
Daniel Schneemann makes diving catch in first MLB game in center field
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt started Daniel Schneemann in center field, and the rookie made a diving catch to get Vinnie Pasquantino out in the fifth inning.
Schneemann started at shortstop in his first two Major League Baseball games earlier this week.
Bobby Witt Jr. hit a one-out single and stole second base in the fifth, but was stranded.
José Ramírez extends Guardians lead to 3-1 over Royals in fourth inning
Steven Kwan and Andrés Giménez each hit singles up the middle with two outs, and José Ramírez followed with an infield single that scored Kwan and advanced Giménez to second base.
Brady Singer exited the game and Will Smith entered in relief. Smith struck out Josh Naylor to end the inning.
José Ramírez hits home run to give Guardians 2-1 lead over Royals in third inning
José Ramírez smacked a solo home run off Brady Singer over the right field fence to give the Guardians a 2-1 lead in the third inning. The ball traveled an estimated 422 feet
The home run gave Ramírez 805 career RBIs, which put him past Manny Ramírez and into eighth place in Cleveland's baseball history.
Andrés Giménez makes fantastic defensive play to keep Guardians even with Royals
Maikel Garcia led off the third with a double to left field, but was unable to score as Tanner Bibee recorded two strikeouts and Guardians second baseman Andrés Giménez made a fantastic defensive play.
Bibee struck out Bobby Witt Jr., Giménez dove to his left to glove the ball and threw to Josh Naylor to get Vinnie Pasquantino and Bibee struck out Salvador Perez.
Cleveland Guardians even with Kansas City Royals through one inning
The Guardians and the Royals are tied 1-1 through one after Steven Kwan scored in the bottom half of the inning.
Kwan led off with a single, went to second when Andrés Giménez reached base via an error by Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia, advanced to third when José Ramírez walked and scored when Josh Naylor hit into a groundout.
Kansas City Royals take 1-0 lead in first inning with unearned run
The Royals took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Maikel Garcia scored an unearned run after two Guardians errors.
Garcia swung at the first pitch from Bibee and reached base via an error by second baseman Andrés Giménez. Garcia then advanced to third via an error by first baseman Josh Naylor on a pickoff attempt. Bibee struck out Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino followed with a double down the right field line to bring in Garcia.
Salvador Perez grounded out to Naylor and Bibee struck out Freddy Fermin to end the inning.
Daniel Schneemann starts in center field for Guardians; David Fry, Tyler Freeman not in lineup
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt is starting rookie Daniel Schneemann in center field Thursday. Schneemann started at shortstop in his first two Major League Baseball games earlier this week.
Brayan Rocchio is starting at shortstop, Kyle Manzardo is the designated hitter and Bo Naylor is the catcher.
David Fry and Tyler Freeman are not in the starting lineup.
How can I watch, listen or stream the Cleveland Guardians game today?
The game will be broadcast locally on Bally Sports. It'll be broadcast on the radio by WTAM (1100-AM) and WARF (1350-AM, Spanish broadcast).
Guardians reach 40 wins in first 60 games for fourth time in franchise history
TheGuardianswonTuesday's game 8-5after scoring eight unanswered runs. That win brought their record to 40-20. It's just the fourth time in franchise history that Cleveland has won at least 40 of their first 60 games (1954, 1995, 1999).
Josh Naylor and Tyler Freeman each hit a two-run home run Tuesday, and the Guardians scored three runs following a throwing error by Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. Witt went 3-for-5 with two home runs and four RBIs.
Tanner Bibee's stats in 2024
Cleveland's starter today, Tanner Bibee, is 4-1 this season with a 3.74 ERA through his first 12 starts. He's pitched 65 innings, striking out 69 while allowing 18 walks. The opposition has hit .236 against him this season. Bibee has won his last two starts, including pitching 6.1 innings and allowing just one run vs. Washington last Friday. He struck out seven out in that start and allowed three hits and a walk.
David Fry an MLB All-Star?
A variety of Cleveland Guardians will be considered for a spot for the Major League Baseball All-Star Game next month. Utility man extraordinaire David Fry is definitely making his All-Star case. As of June 5,Frywas hitting .342 with a .479 on-base percentage, eight home runs, six doubles, 27 RBIs and four stolen bases.
Steven Kwan All-Star case continues despite absence due to injury
Steven Kwan returned from the injured listand played so well that his teammates began joking that he isn't even human.
Daniel Schneemann debut is a baseball classic tale
Daniel Schneemann made his major league debutin Sunday's game and jumped on the first pitch he saw in the major leagues for a two-run double. It completed a long, grinding road to the majors for a former 33rd-round draft pick.
Guardians schedule, next game
The Guardians begin an eight-game road trip Friday that includes trips to Miami, Cincinnati and Toronto. They play at Miami at 7:10 p.m. Friday to open up a three-game series vs. the Marlins.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Guardians score today vs Kansas City Royals live updates
