Guardians Crush Royals in Rubber Match

Angel Martinez's grand slam highlights Cleveland's late offensive outburst

Apr. 9, 2026 at 1:49am

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A dynamic, colorful painting depicting the intense energy and movement of a grand slam baseball swing, with the ball exploding off the bat in a burst of neon paint strokes.The Guardians' bats came alive late, with a grand slam highlighting their decisive victory over the Royals.Kansas City Today

The Cleveland Guardians defeated the Kansas City Royals 10-2 in the rubber match of their three-game series on Wednesday. Angel Martinez led the way for the Guardians with a grand slam in the 8th inning, while Rhys Hoskins, Jose Ramirez, and Juan Brito also drove in runs. Cleveland starter Joey Cantillo pitched 5.2 solid innings, allowing just one earned run.

Why it matters

The win keeps the Guardians in the hunt in the AL Central, as they look to build on their recent success. For the struggling Royals, the loss continues their disappointing start to the season and raises further questions about their ability to compete in the division.

The details

The Guardians jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, with Hoskins, Ramirez, and Brito all driving in runs. The Royals got on the board with an RBI double from Bobby Witt Jr. and an unearned run in the 5th, but Cleveland pulled away late with Martinez's grand slam and some insurance runs.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, April 9, 2026.

The players

Angel Martinez

A Guardians outfielder who hit a grand slam in the 8th inning to break the game open.

Joey Cantillo

The Guardians starting pitcher who went 5.2 innings, allowing 1 earned run.

Bobby Witt Jr.

The Royals' young star who had 2 hits and an RBI in the loss.

Cole Ragans

The Royals starting pitcher who left the game early after being hit by a comebacker.

Rhys Hoskins

The Guardians hitter who drove in a run with a double.

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What they’re saying

“We really came together as a team today and put together a complete game. Angel's grand slam was the big blow, but it was great to see contributions up and down the lineup.”

— Terry Francona, Guardians Manager

What’s next

The Guardians will look to build on this win as they continue their homestand, while the Royals will try to regroup before their next series.

The takeaway

This victory showcases the Guardians' offensive firepower and resilience, as they were able to pull away late against their division rivals. For the Royals, the loss is another setback in what has been a challenging start to the season.