Guardians top White Sox 6-5 on July 13, 2025, as Steven Kwan's clutch RBI and game-saving catch seal a 10-inning thriller. See how Kwan & Manzardo won it.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
In what can only be described as a classic nail-biter, the Cleveland Guardians scratched and clawed their way to a 6-5 extra-inning victory over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday. It was a game defined by resilience, timely power, and a spectacular defensive finish, reminding fans that even in a sub-.500 season, this team has plenty of fight left in it. The heroes were many, but two stood tallest: Kyle Manzardo, who blasted the team back into the lead, and Steven Kwan, who simply refused to let them lose.
Kyle Manzardo's 15th home run of the season turned a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead with one swing of the bat.
When the game was on the line, Steven Kwan put the team on his back. In the top of the 10th, he delivered a clutch sacrifice fly to score the go-ahead run. But his most memorable contribution came in the bottom half. With the tying run on base, Kwan raced into the left-field gap and made a breathtaking, full-extension sliding catch to rob the White Sox and end the game. It was a signature moment for the Guardians' catalyst, who not only drove in the winning run but saved the game with his glove, capping a day where he also scored two runs.
Before Kwan's late-game heroics, it was Kyle Manzardo who provided the game's biggest spark. Just days after being reinstated from the family medical emergency list, the first baseman made an immediate and powerful impact. With the Guardians trailing 2-1 in the 6th, Manzardo stepped up with two outs and crushed a three-run homer off former Guardian Aaron Civale. The blast, his 15th of the year, completely flipped the script and gave Cleveland a 4-2 lead they would desperately cling to.
Starter Joey Cantillo battled through 5.1 innings, giving up four runs on seven hits while striking out six. He kept the Guardians in the game, but it was up to the bullpen to navigate the final frames. It wasn't perfect—Cade Smith was tagged with a blown save—but the unit did just enough. Matt Festa, Jakob Junis, and finally Emmanuel Clase held the line, with Clase pitching a scoreless 10th to shut the door and earn the win.
While Kwan and Manzardo grabbed the headlines, José Ramírez quietly did what he always does: produce. The Guardians' superstar drove in two crucial runs, including a sacrifice fly. His second RBI of the day was also his 50th of the season, a testament to his steady production. In a one-run game, every single run matters, and J-Ram's contributions were indispensable.
This 6-5 victory wasn't just another tick in the win column; it was a character-builder. The Guardians improved to 46-49, and while that's not where they want to be, wins like this—forged in extra innings through clutch hitting and spectacular defense—can provide a massive spark. As the team looks ahead, they'll need to channel the energy from this dramatic Sunday finale and build some much-needed momentum.
