Josh Naylor, a 23-year old first baseman for the Cleveland Guardians, became the first player in Major League Baseball to hit eight RBIs in one game. The Chicago White Sox had been leading by five runs with four outs left and looked like they would be able to hold on to win. However, Josh proved that he is no ordinary ballplayer when his team was down 7-5 after seven innings of play. He came through in the clutch again and scored three times from second base before adding an insurance run as well late into the eighth inning or later (8th).
CHICAGO — Josh Naylor blasted a game-tying grand slam with two outs in the ninth inning and a three-run homer in the 11th, leading the Cleveland Guardians to a 12-9 victory against the Chicago White Sox on Monday night.
The Guardians upset Chicago by coming from an 8-2 deficit in the ninth inning, assisted by two White Sox errors. Naylor also had a run-scoring double in the eighth inning and ended with eight RBIs.
According to ESPN Stats & Information research, Naylor became the first player since the stat became official in 1920 to have eight RBIs from the eighth inning on in a game. He also became the first player in major league history with multiple three-run home runs (or a grand slam) from the ninth inning on in a game.
“What he can accomplish with the bat never shocks me,” teammate Franmil Reyes remarked. “That was incredible. A historic occasion.”
The Guardians halted Chicago’s six-game winning streak with a home run in the ninth inning and a run-scoring double in the tenth. Following a seven-game losing streak, they have won eight of their last ten games.
It was Naylor’s first multihomer game since returning from a season-ending leg injury. This season, he is 10-for-17 with runners in scoring position.
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Naylor hit Liam Hendriks for his first career grand slam, giving the All-Star closer his first blown save since April 8.
Ryan Burr hit the game-winning home run for Naylor, who just cleared the right-field fence. Burr (0-1) took over in the 11th inning for Reynaldo Lopez, who departed the game due to lower back pain he noticed while warming up.
“It hurts,” Hendriks said. “It was something I should have taken care of myself. I couldn’t get it done even though we were just one strike away. That’s the part that hurts the most.”
Burr expressed regret as well.
“It stinks,” he said. “Some days you’re the bug, and other days you’re the windshield. Today I was the bug. I was crushed. It hurts to disappoint this group.”
Emmanuel Clase (1-2) won the victory after allowing a run in the 10th inning. Trevor Stephan earned his second big league save and first of the season by pitching a flawless 11th inning.
White Sox starter Michael Kopech only allowed two hits in six innings, and Gavin Sheets and AJ Pollock both hit three-run homers to help Chicago create a large lead. The White Sox, however, were plagued by four mistakes, which equaled a season record established on April 20 in the opening game of a doubleheader.
With two outs in the first, Sheets hit a line drive to right field, allowing the Guardians’ first run to score. In the ninth inning, Chicago shortstop Tim Anderson and third baseman Yoan Moncada both made costly mistakes.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, the White Sox loaded the bases on three walks, but third baseman Jose Ramirez made a diving stop and first baseman Naylor reached high to receive the ball for the last out of the inning.
Kopech’s ERA dropped to 0.93, and his six innings matching a career best established against Detroit on Aug. 26, 2018.
Moncada made his comeback to the game, while reliever Joe Kelly made his White Sox debut. Moncada has missed the whole season due to a right oblique injury. Kelly threw a scoreless seventh inning while out with a right biceps nerve issue.
This article was based on information from ESPN’s Jesse Rogers and The Associated Press.
