Kayfus, Arias propel Guards to win to split twin-bill with Cubs
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CLEVELAND -- For 14 innings on Sunday, the Guardians’ offense was held at bay. As it turned out, they were saving their best for last.
The Guardians rallied to beat the Cubs, 6-5, in Game 2 of Sunday’s doubleheader at Progressive Field to earn a split in the twin bill. The Guardians fell in Game 1, 1-0, in which the two clubs accumulated three total hits.
The story of Game 2 on Sunday was the contributions Cleveland received from CJ Kayfus and Gabriel Arias. Kayfus’ RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning cut the Guardians’ deficit to 3-1. After a Chase DeLauter sacrifice fly, Arias hit a game-tying RBI single.
An Ian Happ home run off Guardians setup man Shawn Armstrong gave the Cubs a 4-3 lead in the top of the eighth, before Kayfus and Arias delivered once more. Kayfus hit a game-tying solo homer, and Arias hit a go-ahead RBI single off right-hander Jacob Webb.
The Guardians have been tested out of the gates this season, with a schedule that opened with 10 games against preseason World Series contenders in the Mariners, Dodgers and Cubs. Cleveland has gone 6-4 thus far, and its schedule will only continue to be a test.
The Guardians will welcome the AL Central rival Royals to Cleveland for a three-game series on Monday, before a weekend series against the Braves in Atlanta.