CLEVELAND — The Guardians and Cubs split their April 5 doubleheader, with Chicago winning the first game 1-0 and Cleveland coming back to win the second game 6-5 at Progressive Field.
After the Guardians won their home opener April 3 over the Cubs on yet another home run by Chase DeLauter, Cleveland and Chicago had their April 4 game postponed, leading to the Easter Sunday doubleheader April 5.
Here’s how the Easter doubleheader between the Guardians and Cubs unfolded.
Guardians beat the Cubs, split doubleheader
The Guardians have beaten the Cubs 6-5 and split today’s doubleheader with Chicago.
Cade Smith earned the save in the ninth, though it was a bit of an adventure. With two on and two out, Ian Happ blooped an RBI single that dropped in front of Steven Kwan in left-center field and scored a run to make it a one-run game.
Smith then struck out Carson Kelly to end it.
The Guardians open a three-game series with the Royals tomorrow at Progressive field.
Guardians, Cubs score update
Austin Hedges can be added to the list of Cleveland hitters having a positive day.
Hedges just hit an RBI single to left field to give the Guardians a 6-4 lead in the eighth inning. He’s 2-for-3 today, and the Guardians are beating up on the Cubs bullpen.
Gabriel Arias RBI single puts Guardians ahead of Cubs
The Guardians have their first lead of the day.
Chase DeLauter singled and, while on second base, took off to steal third. As he did, Gabriel Arias roped a single to left field. DeLauter slid into third and was able to bounce back up and score, giving the Guardians a 5-4 lead, their first of the entire day.
CJ Kayfus home run ties Guardians-Cubs
Exactly one Guardians hitter is having a positive day: CJ Kayfus, who just tied the second game of today’s doubleheader with a solo home run to right field, making it 4-4 in the eighth inning.
Kayfus is now 2-for-2 with two RBIs since checking in as a pinch-hitter for David Fry.
Ian Happ home run puts Cubs ahead in 8th
The Cubs have regained the lead on Ian Happ’s solo home run to right field off Shawn Armstrong in the eighth inning.
Happ had been 0-for-11 with nine strikeouts this series before the home run.
Rather quickly, the Guardians again have to play catch-up.
Guardians’ 3-run inning ties Cubs
The Guardians offense has life today.
Cleveland put together a three-run rally in the sixth inning to tie it 3-3.
With two runners on, CJ Kayfus — who broke up the no-hitter in the first game — singled to right field to score a run and make it 3-1.
Chase DeLauter followed with an RBI sacrifice fly, cutting the Cubs’ lead to 3-2. After Rhys Hoskins walked, Gabriel Arias put together a quality at-bat in which he fell behind 1-2, worked it full and then hit the score-tying single to left-center field.
After 14 innings of scoreless offense, the Guardians have tied it 3-3 entering the seventh inning.
Dansby Swanson crushes 2-run home run
Dansby Swanson drilled a two-run home run off of Guardians reliever Matt Festa, and the Cubs now hold a 3-0 lead.
The Guardians have two hits to this point, and three hits for the doubleheader.
Cubs lead Guardians entering 5th inning
Through 13 innings today, the Guardians have collected all of two hits. That’s a pretty brutal viewing experience for Cleveland fans sitting in the stands on a windy, 40-degree day.
Steven Kwan robs Alex Bregman of extra bases
Steven Kwan has four Golden Glove Awards in left field. Today, playing center field, he took away extra bases and a run from the Cubs, robbing Alex Bregman of at least a double by tracking down a ball and making the catch as he crashed into the wall.
The Guardians have had some quality defense today, just zero offensive production to support it.
Cubs, Guardians score: Matt Shaw puts Chicago on top
Matt Shaw drilled a solo home run off Parker Messick, and the Cubs are up 1-0 in the top of the third inning.
For the Cleveland offense, it’s been a painfully slow day, now over 11 offensive innings.
Cubs beat the Guardians; First pitch time of second game announced
The Cubs defeated the Guardians, 1-0, in one of the best combined pitching performances in ballpark history.
The Guardians and Cubs combined for three hits. The Guardians accounted for one hit, which was largely due to a misplay in right field by Michael Conforto. In reality, the Cubs probably should have ended up with a combined no-hitter.
The second game has a first-pitch time of 4:30 p.m.
Slade Cecconi was terrific, allowing just one hit and one walk with six strikeouts in six innings. Connor Brogdon gave up the only run of the day.
Cubs, Guardians score as Chicago takes the lead
This game finally has a run — no heat, but a run.
In the eighth inning against Guardians reliever Connor Brogdon, Michael Conforto singled and gave way to Dylan Carlson as a pinch runner. After advancing to second on a bunt, Carlson scored on a Miguel Amaya single to make it 1-0 Cubs in the top of the eighth inning.
Guardians load the bases, Cubs defense keeps it scoreless in 6th inning
The Cubs and Guardians will enter the seventh inning still scoreless, though Cleveland came close to breaking the deadlock in the sixth.
After CJ Kayfus hit the double that broke up Edward Cabrera’s no-hitter, Steven Kwan gave himself up with a sacrifice bunt. Chase DeLauter then hit a grounder to Nico Hoerner at second base. Kayfus took off for home, and Hoerner delivered a great throw that was paired with a nice tag by catcher Miguel Amaya for the out.
Cabrera then lost the strike zone a bit, walking Jose Ramirez and Kyle Manzardo to load the bases with two outs. The Cubs went to the bullpen, and Caleb Thielbar induced a shallow pop-out off the bat of Bo Naylor to end the inning.
Considering Cabrera’s command issues, giving up the out with the sacrifice bunt came back to bite the Guardians.
CJ Kayfus breaks up Edward Cabrera no-hitter
The no-hitter is no more, largely thanks to the wind and a misplay by Cubs right fielder Michael Conforto.
CJ Kayfus drilled a ball to deep right. Conforto took a step in and then had to backtrack and couldn’t make up enough ground in time. What probably should have been a routine fly ball turned into a double for Kayfus.
Edward Cabrera has no-hitter through 5 innings
Cubs starter Edward Cabrera is through the fifth inning without the Guardians recording a hit. Cabrera has walked three and stuck out four.
Slade Cecconi has just about matched, allowing only one hit and striking out five with no walks.
Cecconi has actually allowed fewer baserunners to this point in what has been a chilly pitcher’s duel.
Cubs starter Edward Cabrera has no-hitter through 4 innings vs Guardians
Cubs starting pitcher Edward Cabrera has thrown four no-hit innings against the Guardians thus far, allowing just two walks, one to Brayan Rocchio and another to Chase DeLauter. Rocchio was then thrown out trying to steal second base.
Guardians, Cubs scoreless through two innings
It’s really cold at the ballpark, and neither offense has heated up yet (see what I did there?).
Slade Cecconi for the Guardians and Edward Cabrera for the Cubs have both looked strong today thus far, each cruising through for the first two frames.
Below is some pregame information.
Guardians call up Logan Allen for doubleheader
Left-handed pitcher Logan Allen will be Cleveland’s 27th man for the Easter doubleheader, offering a bit of pitching depth.
Slade Cecconi, Parker Messick to start for Guardians vs Cubs
Slade Cecconi is slated to start the first game, as he was lined up to take the mound April 4. Parker Messick is scheduled to follow him in the second game.
Guardians lineup vs Cubs
How can I watch Guardians vs. Cubs on TV today? Cleveland Guardians radio, streaming, broadcast info
The April 5 games between the Guardians and Cubs will both be televised via GuardsTV. The games can be heard on WTAM-AM 1100, WHBC-AM 1480, WAKR-AM 1590, WMMS-FM 100.7 and WJER-FM 100.9.
Ryan Lewis covers the Cleveland Guardians and Cavaliers for the Akron Beacon Journal. He can be reached at rlewis1@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians score, recap vs Cubs as Cleveland, Chicago split doubleheader
Reporting by Ryan Lewis, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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