CLEVELAND — Shortstop Brayan Rocchio singled to automatic runner Ramón Laureano with one out in the 10th inning, giving the Cleveland Guardians a 5-4 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday.
Cleveland forced extra innings on David Fry’s solo home run in the ninth off Andrew Chafin, then completed its comeback when Rocchio hit a pitch from closer Alex Lange (0-2) to center field.
“It’s an incredible feeling,” Rocchio said through an interpreter. “I’ve been working for a long time to get this kind of moment, and it feels really good when I finally get here.
“I only control what I can control. As long as I do that, good things can happen.”
Rocchio also stole second base, advanced to third on Jake Rogers’ throwing error and scored on an unearned run at eighth base by Joey Wentz to put the Guardians up 4-3. His first career hit gave Cleveland its ninth win in 12 series this season.
“We knew he was going to give up, are you kidding?” Fry said, smiling. “He’s been unbelievable at shortstop every day.”
Emmanuel Clase (2-1) picked up the win with a scoreless inning as Cleveland moved into a tie for the second-best record in the American League at 24-13.
The Tigers scored four times in the fourth to take a 4-2 lead, starting with rookie Colt Keith’s two-run single. Zach McKinstry doubled home Keith and Javier Báez followed on a sacrifice fly by Tanner Bibee, who threw 44 pitches in the inning.
Detroit starter Reese Olson has allowed one hit in six innings — a two-run single by Austin Hedges in the second — and is winless in seven starts since beating the Dodgers on Sept. 20, 2023. The right-hander gave up one run deserved and eliminated four.
“Reese had those guys off balance all day, so it (stinks),” Tigers catcher Jake Rogers said. “He was grinding.”
The Tigers are 7-8 in one-run games, leading the majors with 15 one-run games, and have gone 1-5 on their six-game road trip against the Yankees and Guardians. Second baseman Andy Ibáñez made an error at second that was key to Cleveland’s two-run inning.
Bibee worked four innings, giving up four runs and striking out five.
MILESTONE MOMENT
The Guardians’ top hitting prospect, Kyle Manzardo, had a game-winning single in the seventh in his first major league hit. He went 0 for 7 with five strikeouts in his first two games.
“Obviously a big weight has been lifted off our shoulders,” said the 23-year-old. “Now I feel like I can just go play.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Tigres: OF Mark Canha (illness) was unavailable for the second day in a row and was told to stay at the hotel in hopes of containing the bug that affected some players and coaches on their six-game trip.
Keepers: RHP Eli Morgan (right shoulder inflammation), who was placed on the 15-day injured list on April 17, allowed two runs in 1 1/3 innings in two games of a rehab assignment with Triple-A Columbus.
NEXT
Tigers: Right-hander Casey Mize (1-1, 3.98 ERA) will start against Houston when Detroit debuts its City Connect uniforms at Comerica Park on Friday.
Guardians: Right-hander Ben Lively (1-1, 2.08 ERA) faces White Sox right-hander Erick Fedde (2-0, 3.46 ERA) in the four-game road series opener on Thursday.
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