Brayan Rocchio's Ninth-Inning Heroics Lift Cleveland to 7-6 Win Over Chicago

Shortstop Brayan Rocchio hit a two-run single down the left-field line to overcome a 6-5 deficit against the White Sox on Tuesday.

Brayan Rocchio secured a 7-6 Cleveland victory over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night with a two-out, two-strike base hit down the left-field line. The ninth-inning single drove in Daniel Schneemann and David Fry, erasing a 6-5 deficit. This result moves the Guardians within a half-game of the first-place White Sox heading into the season series finale on Wednesday.

Chicago reliever Grant Taylor surrendered the game-winning hit on a 100 mph fastball after already allowing a hit and a walk in the final frame. Rookie outfielder Sam Antonacci failed to reach the ball after taking what he described as a poor route. Rocchio now leads the major leagues with four walk-off hits this season, all of which have occurred against American League Central opponents.

According to ESPN, Rocchio is the first player since 1930 to record multiple come-from-behind walk-off hits against the same pitcher in a single season, having previously homered off Taylor in July. His four walk-off hits against division rivals also tie a 50-year record for the most in a single season. The Guardians have now closed a six-game gap in the standings over the last month, though Chicago currently maintains the tiebreaker for the division title.