Pirates swept by Guardians after extra-inning loss

Noah Hiles, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Apr 20, 2025

Published in Baseball

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PITTSBURGH — For the second consecutive weekend, the Pirates were swept by a ballclub from the Buckeye State. This time around, it came at the hands of the Cleveland Guardians, who concluded their three game sweep with a 5-4 victory in 10 innings Sunday afternoon at PNC Park.

Emmanuel Clase earned the win, improving to 3-0, while Dennis Santana suffered the loss, dropping to 0-1. Joey Cantillo earned the save, his first of the season.

Following a pair of scoreless frames from both sides to start the contest, Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan put his club ahead in the top of the third with a two-run homer to right field. That one pitch would be Pirates starter Mitch Keller’s lone mistake of the day, as he finished his outing having surrendered just the two earned runs over five innings.

The Pirates struck back in the bottom of the sixth thanks to an RBI double down the left-field line from designated hitter Andrew McCutchen, which scored right fielder Bryan Reynolds. Derek Shelton’s club had an opportunity to do further damage later that frame, putting runners on the corners with two outs. However, right-handed reliever Paul Sewald helped the Guardians escape the jam, getting pinch-hitter Enmanuel Valdez to whiff on a 2-2 sweeper at his feet for a strikeout that ended the inning.

Stephen Vogt’s club added to its lead in the top of the seventh, as first baseman Kyle Manzardo tagged left-hander Joey Wentz for a two-run blast to right field, making the score 4-1. And the Pirates offense had little answer for Cleveland’s bullpen until the bottom of the ninth.

Matched up against Clase, a three-time All-Star who is viewed by some to be the best reliever in baseball, the Pirates clawed their way back thanks to a string of quality at-bats. The rally began thanks to a leadoff walk from Valdez, which was followed by back-to-back doubles from left fielder Tommy Pham and second baseman Adam Frazier, which made the score 4-3.

Representing the tying run, Frazier took a gamble and was rewarded by stealing third base with only one out. Third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes singled his veteran teammate home later that at-bat, to tie the game at four. Reynolds followed Hayes’ single with one of his own, moving the go-ahead run into scoring position. But with a chance to put the contest to bed, McCutchen grounded into an inning-ending double play that sent the game to extras.

Despite the late excitement, Cleveland would have the final laugh as Manzardo drove home the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly in the top of the 10th. The Pirates managed to get the tying run to third base in the bottom half of the frame, but Cantillo retired Valdez on a fly out to right field to secure the sweep.

It was over when …

Manzardo hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th, scoring the game-winning run.

On the mound

Keller surrendered the two earned runs on five hits and a pair of walks while striking out three. The two-run homer allowed by Wentz was the lone offense the bullpen allowed in four innings of work, until the start of extra innings. Justin Lawrence threw a scoreless frame in the top of the sixth, while Chase Shugart posted a pair of zeroes in the eighth and ninth. Santana’s run surrendered in the top of the 10th inning was unearned, as it was scored by Jhonkensy Noel, who started the frame on second base as the automatic runner.

At the plate

As a club, the Pirates outhit the Guardians, 11-8. McCutchen’s RBI double was the club’s lone extra-base knock prior to the rally in the bottom of the ninth. The Pirates are now 6-6 in gamers where they score four or more runs.

Most valuable player

Manzardo finished the series going 4 for 12 at the plate with a double, two homers and five RBIs.

Up next

Following a day off on Monday, the Pirates will be back in action Tuesday as they start a three-game road series in Anaheim, Calif., against the Los Angeles Angels. Bailey Falter (1-2, 4.91) will start the series, and will be opposed by right-hander Jose Soriano (2-2, 3.16). First pitch is scheduled for 9:38 p.m.