The Breakdown · Comeback Win · 2026-06-28

Guardians Erase Three-Run Deficit With Eighth-Inning Surge to Beat Mariners

CLE def. SEA · June 28, 2026 · Final: Guardians 6, Mariners 5

Cleveland trailed 3-0 after the Seattle Mariners pushed across three runs through three innings at Progressive Field, and the hole deepened to 4-1 after Julio Rodríguez's run-scoring single in the top of the sixth. With the Guardians' win probability sitting at 5.1% in the top of the eighth, a comeback looked remote.

Cleveland second baseman Travis Bazzana had given the home side a foothold in the bottom of the fifth, lifting a sacrifice fly to center that scored Gabriel Arias and made it 3-1. But Seattle answered in the sixth, and Cleveland carried a three-run deficit into the late innings.

The bottom of the eighth changed everything.

Guardians third baseman Daniel Schneemann started it with a ground-ball single to center that brought Brayan Rocchio home, cutting the deficit to 4-2. Then Cleveland designated hitter Chase DeLauter lined another ground ball to center, and this one cleared the bases — Cooper Ingle and Schneemann both scored, knotting the game at 4-4.

With the game tied and Steven Kwan standing on third, first baseman Rhys Hoskins drove a line drive to left field. Seattle challenged twice — first on a tag play, then on a fair-or-foul call in the outfield — and both times the call stood. Kwan scored. DeLauter scored. Cleveland led 6-4.

Seattle got one back in the top of the ninth when a throwing error by Bazzana allowed Cole Young to score, pulling the Mariners within 6-5. But the Guardians held.

Cleveland 6, Seattle 5.

The Comeback

Largest deficit
3 runs — in the top of the 3rd
Win-probability nadir
5.1% (down 3 in the top of the 8th)
Lead flipped for good
bottom of the 8th
Lead changes
1
Final
CLE 6, SEA 5 — won by 1

Scoring Summary

Inn.PlayScore
T2 Mitch Garver singles on a line drive to right fielder Kahlil Watson. Cal Raleigh scores. 1-0
T3 Josh Naylor doubles (11) on a line drive to right fielder Kahlil Watson. Julio Rodríguez scores. 2-0
T3 Randy Arozarena reaches on a throwing error by shortstop Brayan Rocchio. Josh Naylor scores. 3-0
B5 Travis Bazzana out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Julio Rodríguez. Gabriel Arias scores. 3-1
T6 Julio Rodríguez singles on a ground ball to second baseman Travis Bazzana. Victor Robles scores. 4-1
B8 Daniel Schneemann singles on a ground ball to center fielder Julio Rodríguez. Brayan Rocchio scores. Cooper Ingle to 2nd. 4-2
B8 Chase DeLauter singles on a ground ball to center fielder Julio Rodríguez. Cooper Ingle scores. Daniel Schneemann scores. Steven Kwan to 3rd. 4-4
B8 Mariners challenged (tag play), call on the field was upheld: Mariners challenged (fair or foul in outfield), call on the field was upheld: Rhys Hoskins doubles (13) on a line drive to left fielder Randy Arozarena. Steven Kwan scores. Chase DeLauter scores. 4-6
T9 Victor Robles reaches on a throwing error by second baseman Travis Bazzana. Cole Young scores. Colt Emerson to 3rd. Victor Robles to 2nd. 5-6

Box score

Final 6–5

Line score

  123456789 R H E
SEA 012001001 5 13 1
CLE 00001005 6 12 2

CLEWinning team

Batting

BatterABRHRBIBBSOAVG
Steven KwanCF 411 010 .210
Travis Bazzana2B 300 111 .256
Chase DeLauterDH 512 201 .265
Rhys Hoskins1B 202 200 .182
David FryRF 100 010 .207
Brayan RocchioSS 411 010 .268
Cooper IngleLF 210 022 .143
Daniel Schneemann3B 212 100 .214
Patrick BaileyC 100 001 .174
Kyle Manzardo1B 300 001 .230
Kahlil WatsonRF 302 001 .290
Gabriel Arias3B 211 000 .211
Austin HedgesC 201 000 .269

Pitching

PitcherIPHRERBBSONP
Gavin Williams 5.063 236103
Shawn Armstrong 0.221 10218
Tim Herrin 1.010 00016
Matt Festa 1.120 01020
Cade Smith 1.021 00121

SEALosing team

Batting

BatterABRHRBIBBSOAVG
J.P. Crawford3B 602 001 .222
Julio RodríguezCF 412 112 .253
Josh Naylor1B 412 100 .256
Randy ArozarenaLF 500 001 .283
Cal RaleighDH 311 020 .165
Cole Young2B 512 000 .253
Colt EmersonSS 501 001 .205
Dominic CanzonePH 100 001 .274
Victor RoblesRF 512 001 .242
Mitch GarverC 301 112 .190

Pitching

PitcherIPHRERBBSONP
Emerson Hancock 5.251 13698
Eduard Bazardo 0.110 00110
Gabe Speier 1.020 00013
Michael Rucker 0.124 42021
Josh Simpson 0.221 11018