On Friday night, April 18, 2025, Bo Naylor went 3-for-5 with a home run, a double, and three RBIs to lead the Cleveland Guardians to a 10-7 victory over the host Pittsburgh Pirates. Cleveland halted a two-game skid with its first double-digit scoring game of the season while totaling a season-high 14 hits.
Naylor's two-run double to center with one out in the fourth inning scored Carlos Santana and Gabriel Arias to put Cleveland ahead 4-2. The Guardians then broke the game open with five runs in the seventh inning. Jhonkensy Noel and Arias each had two-run doubles off reliever Kyle Nicolas in that inning.
Despite a strong effort from the Pirates, led by Bryan Reynolds, who went 3-for-5 with two RBIs, the home team could not close the gap. Reynolds began a near comeback for Pittsburgh, hitting a solo home run as part of a three-run seventh inning. Enmanuel Valdez contributed as well, hitting a two-run home run in the same inning for Pittsburgh, which belted three homers in a game for the first time this season and finished with a season-high six extra-base hits.
Pittsburgh's Oneil Cruz also made headlines, hitting a leadoff home run for the second consecutive game. The Pirates scored two in the ninth on a Reynolds RBI single and a Valdez run-scoring double off Guardians reliever Paul Sewald. However, Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan made a critical defensive play by throwing out Valdez at third for the second out of the inning.
Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase relieved Sewald and faced some challenges, walking Joey Bart before striking out Jack Suwinski to secure his third save of the season.
Naylor's home run in the third off Pirates starter Carmen Mlodzinski (1-3) tied the score at 1. Cleveland starter Luis L. Ortiz (2-2) had a solid outing, striking out eight and allowing just two runs on four hits and three walks in five innings. He threw 92 pitches in his first start against his former team.
Mlodzinski exited in the fifth inning after allowing a leadoff double to Jose Ramirez, who subsequently stole third and scored on a fielding error by Jared Triolo. Mlodzinski was charged with five runs on nine hits and two walks, failing to record a strikeout and throwing just 64 pitches. This rough outing broke a string of four consecutive starts by Pirates pitchers of six or more innings.
The Guardians' victory marks a significant moment in their season as they look to build momentum moving forward. With a mix of strong offense and solid pitching, they hope to carry this performance into their next matchup.
