CHICAGO -- The Guardians were on the verge of a riveting comeback victory on Monday. Ultimately, a frustrating finish gave way to a loss that left a deflating feeling in their stomachs.
The Guardians fell, 6-5, to the White Sox at Rate Field in the opener of a three-game series, after Chicago’s Sam Antonacci delivered a walk-off two-run single off closer Cade Smith. Cleveland (41-38) and Chicago (40-37) are now even atop the AL Central standings in the midst of their first head-to-head series this season.
The climactic moment between Smith and Antonacci was just one of many highlights from Monday, when both sides likely felt like they had victory in their grasp on multiple occasions.
The Guardians trailed 3-0 entering the seventh inning and were down 4-3 entering the eighth. They led 5-4 heading into the bottom of the ninth and had Chicago down to its last out when Antonacci delivered.
Cleveland dropped to 7-11 in June and 2-5 in what will be a losing nine-game road trip.
“It’s never easy [to flush a game like that],” first baseman Rhys Hoskins said. “The reality is that we’ve got a game in 20 hours [that] we’ve got to find a way to prepare for. … We can't change what happened today. Obviously, we can learn from the good or the bad. Just try to go out as prepared as we can to try to even the series tomorrow.”
For Guardians fans, the biggest takeaway might be that the White Sox don’t appear to be going anywhere anytime soon. For now, here are four defining moments from the loss.
1. The seventh-inning rally
The Guardians got nothing going against White Sox starter Anthony Kay, who allowed just three hits and two walks over six scoreless innings. Kay struck out eight batters, including Gabriel Arias three times. Arias finished 0-for-5 with five punchouts.
Cleveland flipped a switch in the seventh. Pinch-hitters Steven Kwan (walk) and Daniel Schneemann (single) reached base. Travis Bazzana walked with one out to load the bases. Manager Stephen Vogt called on rookie Kahlil Watson to pinch-hit for David Fry. The 23-year-old hit a two-run single, and Hoskins followed with a game-tying RBI single.
“I think I was just in my head ever since I got up here, and I've never been in my head like I've been recently,” said Watson, who went 0-for-12 to start his big league career after his callup on Wednesday. “But now I feel like I'm comfortable.”
2. Antonacci’s other knock
Guardians reliever Shawn Armstrong allowed a leadoff double to Braden Montgomery in the bottom of the seventh. It looked like he was going to get out of it unscathed before a funky moment.
With two outs, Antonacci hit a broken-bat grounder to Hoskins. It got by him and into right field for an RBI single that put Chicago back in front.
“I saw the bat, saw [the ball] wasn't hit that great,” Hoskins said. “I took a peek up at the bat, and I think when it did, it took a hop to my right. I just didn't see that off the bat, and that's why I kind of got crossed up. Tough play. It's just kind of how baseball goes.”
3. The first play at the plate
Kyle Manzardo hit a Statcast-projected 248-foot fly ball to center fielder Tristan Peters in the ninth. Patrick Bailey (who moments prior hit a game-tying RBI single) tagged up from third base. The throw to catcher Kyle Teel arrived as Bailey approached the plate, and he lunged for the dish rather than sliding.
Bailey tumbled to the ground. He was ruled out, but the call was overturned after a Guardians challenge. It gave Cleveland a 5-4 lead.
4. The second play at the plate
Smith picked up a tough-luck loss Monday. He pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning and struck out two on just 12 pitches. He went back out for the ninth, when he issued a one-out walk to Montgomery.
The left-handed-hitting Peters followed by hitting a double down the left-field line on a check-swing. Following a strikeout, Antonacci then lined a first-pitch fastball up the middle. Rocchio made a play on the ball, but it got by him.
Montgomery scored and Peters followed with the winning run, which was confirmed by review after a semi-close play at the plate.
In the long run, the Guardians hope a game like Monday is good for them.
“Of course, we play close games,” Hoskins said, “but it's just a little different when you play somebody that's either in first place or trying to chase you down in first place, or really just in your division. Obviously we want to come out in the win column, but these are the types of games that prepare a group for the ones that you want to play.”