Former Lake City star Manzardo homers, drives in three as Guardians sweep three-game series with Pirates
GENE J. PUSKAR/Associated Press Kyle Manzardo of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates with Carlos Santana, left, as he heads back to the dugout after hitting a two-run home run off Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Joey Wentz during the seventh inning Sunday in Pittsburgh.
From wire and local reports
PITTSBURGH — Steven Kwan and Kyle Manzardo hit two-run homers and Manzardo added a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning to rally the Cleveland Guardians to a 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday for a three-game sweep.
Manzardo, the former Lake City High and Washington State star, drove in Jhonkensy Noel, who started the inning at second, with a one-out fly to left off Dennis Santana (0-1).
Manzardo now has six homers and 16 RBIs on the season.
The Pirates (8-15) rallied for three runs in the ninth off Emmanuel Clase (3-0), the former Spokane Indian who was going for his third straight save in the series.
Clase surrendered a two-run double to Adam Frazier before Ke'Bryan Hayes tied it with an RBI single. Andrew McCutchen hit into an inning-ending double play on Clase's 30th pitch.
Kwan followed Brayan Rocchio's leadoff single in the third with a shot down the right-field line off Pirates starter Mitch Keller for his fourth home run and a 2-0 lead.
The lefty-hitting Manzardo homered for the second straight game in the seventh inning, connecting off left-hander Joey Wentz for his sixth after Ramírez singled with two outs and stole second.
Pittsburgh pulled within 2-1 in the sixth on an RBI double by McCutchen.
Kwan's home run down the right-field line gave him a team-high 14 RBIs from the leadoff spot. Manzardo passed him with 15 after his homer.
The Guardians begin a nine-game homestand tonight with a three-game series against the Yankees.
CLASE FALTERS AGAIN
The Guardians are still waiting for Clase to regain his usual form.
Clase allowed three runs in the ninth inning against Pittsburgh on Sunday for his second blown save of the season, and although he got the win when Cleveland prevailed 5-4 in 10, it was another concerning outing by the right-hander who finished third in the American League Cy Young race last year.
Clase exceeded 40 saves each of the past three seasons and posted a 0.61 ERA in 2024. This year, he's already allowed nine earned runs after yielding five all of last season.
With the Guardians leading 4-1 on Sunday, manager Stephen Vogt brought in Clase. It was his third straight day coming in out of the bullpen, although he'd thrown only 15 pitches combined Friday and Saturday.
A walk and a pair of doubles made it 4-3, then one out later, Ke'Bryan Hayes tied it with an RBI single. With two on, Clase finally got out of the inning thanks to a double play.
It was the first time he allowed three earned runs in an outing since Aug. 12, 2023, against Tampa Bay.
After Cleveland scored in the top of the 10th to take the lead, Joey Cantillo took the mound and threw a scoreless inning for the first save of his career — in the majors or the minors.
Clase has 162 big league saves. But right now, he also has a 7.84 ERA in 2025, and that's turned his appearances into more of an adventure than Cleveland is used to.