The Guardians outscored the Cubs 9-8 in a matchup that evokes memories of the 2016 World Series originally appeared in NBC Sports Chicago
CLEVELAND (AP) — Josh Naylor drove in a go-ahead José Ramírez in the eighth inning and the Cleveland Guardians held on for a 9-8 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Monday night in a back-and-forth clash that evoked memories of their World Cup. Series 2016.
Rookie Jhonkensy Noel hit a three-run homer and a solo shot, and made a diving run into right field to save a few runs for the AL Central-leading Guardians, who returned home after splitting a tense four-game series in the second . put Minnesota.
Steven Kwan added a two-run homer as the Guardians improved the league’s best home record to 36-20.
Ramírez led off the eighth with a double from Julian Merryweather (1-1) and pinch-hitter Will Brennan scored before Naylor hit his base hit to left.
The Cubs led 3-0 and then fell behind 8-3 before tying it with four runs in the seventh and one in the eighth from Cleveland’s vaunted bullpen.
While the game didn’t have the same drama as Series 16, which the Cubs won in seven games, it had plenty of great moments.
Nick Sandlin (7-0) got the final two outs in the eighth before Guardians manager Stephen Vogt brought on Emmanuel Clase for the third straight game. Clase struck out the Cubs for his league-leading 36th save.
Noel’s three-run blast in the fourth off Shota Imanaga and into the pedestrian plaza at Progressive Field came on the heels of his sensational catch.
Ian Happ and Pete Crow-Armstrong were honored by the Cubs, who are on a 14-game streak against AL teams.
The Cubs were already up three and threatening in the fourth when Noel showed up with his defensive gem.
With two innings and two outs, Chicago’s Seiya Suzuki lifted a ball to right that was headed toward the foul line. Noel, 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds, made a decent jump and lunged for the catch before sliding face down into the grass.
Noel fell behind 1-2 in the count before hitting a low splitter over the wall in left for his seventh home run to make it 4-3.
Kwan followed an Austin Hedges single in the fifth with his 13th home run, a shot high to right.
Happ celebrated his 30th birthday by hitting a 429-foot home run off Guardians starter Ben Lively.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cubs: Rookie RHP Ben Brown (neck strain) has been shut down. Coach Craig Counsell said Brown was not progressing and that the team felt the best next step was complete rest. Counsell said the team does not have a timetable for Brown’s return, but did not rule out him pitching again this season.
Guardians: LHP Sam Hentges (shoulder) is getting a second opinion on an injury that limited him to just 25 games this season. Hentges was on a minor league rehab assignment at Triple-A Columbus.
NEXT
Matthew Boyd makes his debut for the Guardians, who signed the left-hander as a free agent in June to give them starting depth. Boyd underwent Tommy John surgery last year. He will face Cubs RHP Javier Assad (5-3, 3.24 ERA).
