ANAHEIM -- If you stayed up late to catch the Guardians' matchup with the Angels in Anaheim on Tuesday, you were treated to one of Cleveland’s most riveting games of the season.
If you called it a night early, perhaps after the Guardians fell into a big hole early in a West Coast game, allow manager Stephen Vogt to describe what transpired.
“That was a heart-pumper,” Vogt said. “That game was crazy.”
The Guardians trailed 5-0 through two innings. They ultimately pulled off their largest comeback win this season by beating the Angels, 8-6, in 10 innings at Angel Stadium.
Cleveland’s largest comeback this season previously was three runs, which it completed four times. Tuesday marked the Guardians’ first comeback of four-plus runs since Aug. 29, 2025, when they beat the Mariners, 5-4, after falling into a 4-0 hole.
The Guardians, who have won six in a row, moved back above .500 at 67-66. They hold sole possession of the final American League Wild Card spot.
“It felt really reminiscent of years before, where it doesn't matter the lead or that we're behind,” outfielder Steven Kwan said. “We feel confident in our plans, and didn't try to do too much. I feel like we said that earlier in the year, but didn't actually perform that.
“Today felt a little different. That's the momentum we're going to need moving down the stretch.”
Here are four things that mattered from Tuesday’s win.
1. A vintage Ramírez performance
José Ramírez has been trying to find his form offensively since he returned from left hamate surgery last month. He went 3-for-5 with three doubles (tied for a career high) and five RBIs on Tuesday.
“We've been waiting for a night like this, just a Hosey night where he picks us up and carries us,” Vogt said.
Ramírez entered Tuesday slashing .226/.321/.247 in 26 games since he came off the IL on July 22, with just two extra-base hits (both doubles). There have been prior instances where it has taken time for players to fully regain their power stroke post-hamate surgery. That’s perhaps what we’ve witnessed.
“I’m just trying to compete,” Ramírez said through team interpreter Agustin Rivero. “Obviously, I'm not 100%, but that's not an excuse. I have to find ways to get up there and compete, and try to help the team in any way I can.”
Ramírez drove in Kwan in the eighth with a game-tying double that evened the score at 6-6. The 33-year-old put Cleveland ahead for good with a two-run double in the top of the 10th inning.
Tuesday was Ramírez’s sixth career game with three doubles, following Sept. 21, 2016 (vs. Kansas City), Sept. 3, 2017 (at Detroit), May 15, 2021 (at Seattle), Aug. 26, 2024 (vs. Kansas City in Game 2 of a doubleheader) and June 2 of this season at the Yankees.
2. Kwan in peak form
Kwan endured the worst stretch of his career offensively the first three months of the season. Now, he’s rarely getting out. He went 5-for-5 on Tuesday with five singles and one walk. It marked his second career five-hit game (April 10, 2022, vs. the Royals).
“Kwany has been doing this now for, it seems like, two months,” Vogt said. “When he gets on base, we go, and he did that tonight.”
Kwan singled in the 10th on a 2-2 count, after he squared around to bunt multiple times. It capped off a night that was a continuation of his turnaround this season. In 45 games since July 1, Kwan has a .377/.474/.457 slash line. He slashed .212/.318/.257 in 78 games prior.
“It's affirming,” Kwan said of his turnaround. “We have to be process-oriented. We can't be outcome-oriented a lot of the time. Today is one of those days where it makes it a little easier.”
3. Bullpen delivers in crisis
The Guardians’ rally was made possible by their bullpen’s effort after Gavin Williams struggled in his shortest start of the season and the third-shortest of his career. Williams threw 62 pitches and recorded just four outs. He was charged with five runs on six hits (including two home runs) and one walk, with three strikeouts.
Six relievers combined to allow one run on three hits and one walk over 8 2/3 innings. Logan Allen was especially crucial. He allowed one run (a Vaughn Grissom solo shot) over three innings.
Williams has only two career starts shorter than Tuesday: Sept. 7, 2024, against the Dodgers (two-thirds of an inning) and Aug. 29, 2023, against the Twins (one inning).
4. Angel in the outfield
With a runner on first and two outs in the eighth, Mike Trout hit a Statcast-projected 401-foot drive to the warning track in center. Angel Martínez brought it down with a leaping catch.
Martínez noted he didn't think the drive would have carried over the center-field wall, but it was crucial because Angels had the go-ahead run on first. Adding to the drama was that Martínez started in left field and only moved to center in the bottom of the seventh.
“This is my first time playing center field here,” Martínez said. “That’s why I double-checked when I was going back, trying to find the spot. Once I looked the second time, I knew it was time to jump.”