Shortstop Brayan Rocchio singled home automatic runner Ramón Laureano with one out in the 10th inning, giving the Cleveland Guardians a 5-4 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday.
Cleveland forced extra innings on David Fry’s solo homer in the ninth against Andrew Chafin, then completed its comeback when Rocchio sharply smacked a pitch from closer Alex Lange (0-2) into center field.
“It’s a super incredible feeling,” Rocchio said through an interpreter. “I’ve been working for so long to get these type of moments, and it feels really nice when I finally get here.
“I just control what I can control. As long as I do that, good things can happen.”
Rocchio also stole second base, advanced to third on Jake Rogers’ throwing error and scored an unearned run in the eighth off Joey Wentz to pull the Guardians within 4-3. His first career walk-off hit gave Cleveland its ninth win in 12 series this season.
“We knew he was going to walk it off, are you kidding?” Fry said, smiling. “He’s been unbelievable at shortstop every day.”
Emmanuel Clase (2-1) earned the victory with a scoreless inning as Cleveland