CHICAGO — Josh Naylor hit a tie grand slam with two outs in the ninth inning and a three-run homer in the 11th, making for a huge comeback that led the Cleveland Guardians 12-9 past the Chicago White Sox on Monday night.
Naylor also had a double in the eighth heat and finished with eight RBIs for the Guardians, who stunned Chicago by recovering from an 8-2 deficit in the ninth, helped by two White Sox errors.
According to research from ESPN Stats & Information, Naylor became the first player since the stat went official in 1920 to have eight RBIs in a game starting in the eighth inning. He also became the first player in major league history with multiple triple homers (or a grand slam) starting in the ninth inning in a game.
“I’m not surprised what he can do with the racquet,” said teammate Franmil Reyes. “It was incredible. A legendary moment.”
Andrés Giménez led from the ninth inning with a homer and then doubled a run home in the 10th as the Guardians ended Chicago’s six-game winning streak. They’ve won eight out of ten after seven games.
It was the first multihomer game for Naylor, who was returning from a horrific leg injury last season. He’s 10-for-17 with runners in the scoring position this year.
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Naylor started his first career slam against Liam Hendriks, bringing the All-Star closer to his first annihilated save since April 8.
Naylor’s starting shot came from Ryan Burr and barely crossed the right fence. Burr (0-1) started in 11th place in place of Reynaldo Lopez, who felt a tightness in his lower back while warming up and left the game.
“It stings,” said Hendriks. “It should have been something I should have taken care of. We were a shot away and I couldn’t get it done. That hurts the most.”
Burr was equally remorseful.
“It sucks,” he said. “Some days you’re the windshield, some days you’re the bug. I was the beetle today. I was crushed. It sucks to let this team down.”
Emmanuel Clase (1-2) allowed a run in 10th place but earned the win. Trevor Stephan posted a perfect 11th for his second major league save and first of the season.
White Sox starter Michael Kopech allowed two hits in six innings, and Chicago got three homers from Gavin Sheets and AJ Pollock to build a big lead. But four errors, setting a season-high on April 20 in the first game of a doubleheader, dogged the White Sox.
Sheets dropped a line drive to right field with two outs in the first, allowing the Guardians’ first run to score. Chicago shortstop Tim Anderson and third baseman Yoan Moncada made costly errors in ninth place.
The White Sox loaded bases on three walks in the bottom of the ninth, but third baseman Jose Ramirez made a dive stop and Naylor stretched wide at first base to catch the throw for the finale from the inning.
Kopech lowered his ERA to .93 and his six innings hit a career high on August 26, 2018 in Detroit.
The game marked the return of Moncada and reliever Joe Kelly’s White Sox debut. Moncada had not played this season due to a right oblique strain. Kelly, who was out with a right biceps nerve injury, posted a scoreless seventh place finish.
Information from ESPN’s Jesse Rogers and The Associated Press was used in this report.