Guardians lose 4-3 to the Mariners on June 15, 2025, in a walk-off. Despite José Ramírez's historic streak, Emmanuel Clase's blown save sealed the loss.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Some nights in baseball leave you speechless, and Saturday in Seattle was one of them. It was a game that had everything: a historic milestone, an unbelievable display of toughness, and ultimately, a gut-wrenching finish. The Cleveland Guardians snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, falling 4-3 to the Mariners on a walk-off single after a ninth-inning meltdown spoiled what should have been a celebratory night.
Struck in the face by a 106.6 mph line drive, reliever Cade Smith simply shook it off, stayed in the game, and recorded a strikeout.
The Guardians carried a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth, handing the ball to their usually automatic closer, Emmanuel Clase. But this wasn't Clase's night. A wild pitch allowed the tying run to score, and just moments later, Jorge Polanco delivered the final blow—a walk-off RBI single that sent the home crowd into a frenzy and the Guardians back to the dugout with a tough loss. Tanner Bibee had given the team a solid start, going five innings and allowing just two runs, but the bullpen's final chapter unraveled when it mattered most. Clase (4-1) was tagged with the loss in a rare and painful blown save.
Amid the disappointment, José Ramírez continued to be a beacon of excellence. With a towering solo home run in the fifth inning, J-Ram extended his on-base streak to a remarkable 39 games. The streak not only leads all of Major League Baseball but now ties the Cleveland franchise record. Every time he steps to the plate, it's must-see TV. His consistency has been the engine of this offense, and even in a loss, seeing him etch his name into the record books was a major highlight.
You want to talk about grit? Look no further than Cade Smith. In the fifth inning, the reliever was struck squarely in the face by a 106.6 mph line drive off the bat of Rowdy Tellez. In a moment that silenced the stadium, Smith went down but quickly got back up, shook it off, and insisted on staying in the game. Not only did he stay in, but he promptly struck out the next batter to end the inning. It was an absolutely incredible display of toughness and composure that won't show up in the box score but will be remembered by everyone who saw it.
In other team news, the Guardians welcomed a familiar face back to the dugout, reinstating catcher Austin Hedges from the 7-day concussion IL. To make room on the roster, Dom Nuñez was optioned to Triple-A Columbus. Before the game, there was a heartwarming moment as manager Stephen Vogt, a Washington native and former Mariners coach, spent time on the field with his sons' Little League team, a special homecoming for the skipper. And for fans back home, the team announced a Father's Day sale on CLEGUARDIANS.TV, offering a 50% discount on subscriptions.
This one stings, there's no way around it. Losing a game you should have won is always a tough pill to swallow. But this team has shown resilience all season. They'll need to shake this one off quickly and come back ready to salvage the series against a tough Mariners squad. With Ramírez playing at an MVP level and the entire team inspired by Cade Smith's incredible toughness, look for the Guardians to bounce back with a vengeance in the series finale.
