Guardians Rally to Edge Mariners in Crucial Wild-Card Series

The Cleveland Guardians staged a dramatic 5-4 comeback victory over the Seattle Mariners, with Brayan Rocchio delivering the tying RBI single and later scoring the winning run on a sacrifice fly by Steven Kwan in the ninth inning. The Guardians rallied from a 4-0 deficit, propelled by home runs from Kyle Manzardo and Nolan Jones and key hits from José Ramírez, who set a career hit record at Progressive Field. Cleveland's bullpen, led by Tim Herrin, held off the Mariners despite late-inning struggles by Seattle's relievers. The win brought the Guardians within four games of Seattle for the final American League wild-card spot, intensifying the playoff race as Cleveland hosts Seattle for a critical three-game series. Seattle played without suspended outfielder Victor Robles and saw defensive miscues contribute to their loss, while Guardians pitcher Logan Allen, despite recent struggles, will continue to face off against Mariners' George Kirby. The series represents a crucial opportunity for the Guardians to gain ground in the postseason race.