Guardians Rally Late to Split Doubleheader with Cubs

Gabriel Arias' RBI single in the 8th inning lifted Cleveland to a 6-5 win in the nightcap.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 5:49am

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The Cleveland Guardians rallied from early deficits to beat the Chicago Cubs 6-5 in the second game of a Sunday doubleheader, splitting the twin bill after the Cubs won the opener 1-0. Gabriel Arias' RBI single in the 8th inning gave the Guardians the lead, while CJ Kayfus hit a game-tying solo homer earlier in the frame to spark the comeback.

Why it matters

The Guardians and Cubs are both looking to contend in their respective divisions this season, so this series split keeps both teams within striking distance of the leaders as the season progresses.

The details

In the nightcap, the Cubs jumped out to a 3-0 lead before the Guardians chipped away, tying the game 3-3 in the 6th inning. The Cubs regained the lead 4-3 in the 8th, but the Guardians rallied for 3 runs in the bottom half, capped by Arias' go-ahead single. Cleveland held on in the 9th to secure the split.

  • The Guardians and Cubs split a Sunday doubleheader on April 6, 2026.
  • The Guardians won the nightcap 6-5 after the Cubs took the opener 1-0.

The players

Gabriel Arias

A Guardians infielder who delivered the go-ahead RBI single in the 8th inning of the nightcap.

CJ Kayfus

A Guardians pinch-hitter who hit a game-tying solo home run in the 8th inning to spark the comeback.

Shota Imanaga

The Cubs starting pitcher who allowed just 1 run over 5+ innings in the nightcap.

Jacob Webb

The Cubs reliever who gave up 3 runs in the 8th inning to take the loss in the nightcap.

Shawn Armstrong

The Guardians reliever who earned the win in the nightcap despite allowing a go-ahead homer in the 8th.

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What they’re saying

“We showed a lot of fight to come back and win that second game. It was a big team effort, and we're proud of the way the guys battled back.”

— Terry Francona, Guardians Manager

What’s next

The Guardians and Cubs will meet again for a three-game series in Chicago starting on May 10th.

The takeaway

This series split demonstrates the competitiveness of both the Guardians and Cubs, who are likely to be in the playoff hunt all season long. The late-inning heroics in the nightcap showcase the resiliency of the Guardians, who refused to be counted out despite early deficits.