Messick Masterclass + Bazzana Blast = Series Split in Brew City
Cleveland needed a statement. Down two games to none in Milwaukee, the Guardians delivered a gutsy 4-2 win over the Brewers on Thursday afternoon at American Family Field — salvaging the series finale and sending the Cleveland faithful home with a smile.
Final Score
Cleveland Guardians 4, Milwaukee Brewers 2 — FINAL
Key Stats
- Parker Messick (W, 7-3): 6 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 9 K — 96 pitches, 59 strikes
- Travis Bazzana: Go-ahead solo HR (4th) in the 7th off Grant Anderson — the decisive blow
- Kyle Manzardo: Solo HR (7th) in the 6th to tie the game at 2
- David Fry: Solo HR (3rd) — Cleveland’s first run of the day
- Cade Smith (S, 24): 4 outs, struck out Christian Yelich to end the Brewers’ 8th-inning threat
- CLE Record: 40-35 | AL Central: 2nd place
How It Happened
Parker Messick was electric from the jump. Messick held the Brewers to two runs and four hits while striking out nine in his 96-pitch outing — a performance that further cements his Rookie of the Year credentials.
Cleveland’s offense punched back with the long ball. David Fry and Kyle Manzardo also homered for the Guardians, who had lost the first two games of the series. The Guardians pulled even in the sixth on Manzardo’s homer off Joel Kuhnel.
Bazzana’s towering home run off Grant Anderson in the seventh gave the Guardians a 3-2 lead. Cleveland tacked on a run in the inning on Drew Rom’s bases-loaded wild pitch. That cushion proved just enough.
The Brewers made it interesting late. The Brewers loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh, but Colin Holderman retired Andrew Vaughn to end the inning — then Milwaukee loaded the bases again in the eighth with two outs before Cade Smith struck out Christian Yelich. Ice water in his veins, Smith notching his 24th save of the year.
Up Next
The Guardians send Tanner Bibee (2-7, 3.96 ERA) to the mound Friday at Houston vs. Tatsuya Imai (3-3, 6.43). A tough road trip continues, but today’s win showed this club has fight — even shorthanded.
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