Guardians Rally Late to Edge Orioles 3–2

By Oliver Wiener July 25, 2025 09:23

On July 23, 2025, the Cleveland Guardians pulled off a late-inning rally to secure a narrow 3-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field. The thrilling finish was highlighted by a clutch two-out, go-ahead RBI single from Steven Kwan in the eighth inning, sending the recently surging Guardians to another dramatic win in a tightly contested American League matchup.

The game remained a tense pitchers’ duel for much of the night. Orioles starter Colin Selby struggled early, yielding two runs in the fourth inning on a combination of hits and walks, but managed to settle down afterward, allowing only one more run over five innings. His counterpart, Logan Allen of Cleveland, battled through some early trouble but kept the Orioles at bay, pitching six solid innings while surrendering just two runs on five hits.

Offensively, the Orioles got on the board first. Baltimore’s designated hitter Jackson Holliday connected for a solo home run in the sixth inning, marking his 14th homer of the season and tying him for the team lead, igniting the Orioles’ hope for a comeback. However, the Guardians responded quickly, manufacturing runs with situational hitting and capitalizing on Orioles’ mistakes.

The Guardians’ offense was paced by Bo Naylor and Steven Kwan, who displayed patience and timely contact throughout the game. Bo Naylor reached base multiple times and scored what would be the tying run in the eighth inning. With two outs and runners on base, Kwan delivered the game-winning hit a sharp single to right field that plated Naylor for the go-ahead run. Kwan’s clutch performance was a fitting cap to a game defined by pitching and tight margins.

Guardians reliever Hunter Gaddis (1-1) earned the win, coming in during the late innings to hold the Orioles scoreless and maintain the narrow lead. Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase secured his 23rd save of the season with a clean ninth inning, overpowering the Orioles’ lineup to seal the victory.

After the game, Kwan reflected on his pivotal hit: “We knew it was going to be a grind. When I came up, I just focused on putting the ball in play and trusting my teammates to do the rest. It feels great to help the team win in a tight game like this.” Manager Terry Francona praised his team’s resilience and execution during the crucial moments: “Steven’s hit was exactly what we needed. That kind of clutch hitting makes the difference, especially in games this close.”

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde acknowledged the hard-fought nature of the game and complimented the Guardians’ late-game poise. “Both teams battled hard. We had our chances but couldn’t get that final hit. Credit to Cleveland they made us pay when it mattered most.”

This victory improved the Guardians' record to 49-50, keeping them within striking distance in the competitive AL playoff race. Conversely, the Orioles dropped to 44-55 but showed flashes of potential despite their struggles this season.

The game underscored the importance of bullpen strength and situational hitting in close contests. Cleveland’s ability to manufacture runs late and leverage strong bullpen performances from Gaddis and Clase highlighted the team’s growing maturity.