Santana homers and Guardians hold on for 3-2 win over White Sox in unusual finish

CLEVELAND (AP) — Carlos Santana homered and the Cleveland Guardians held off the Chicago White Sox 3-2 on Wednesday night in a game that ended on a bizarre play.

The White Sox had the bases loaded with two outs in the ninth inning when Miguel Vargas singled through the hole at shortstop. Jacob Amaya scored and it seemed Mike Tauchman was going to tie the game before he appeared to injure himself while rounding third base.

Tauchman, who just came off the injured list after a right hamstring strain, was tagged out by catcher Austin Hedges for the final out after the throw from left fielder Steven Kwan.

Emmanuel Clase got his first save of the season, despite allowing three hits and a walk with two strikeouts. Paul Sewald (1-1) got the win.

One day after celebrating his 39th birthday, Santana drove a low slider from Sean Burke (1-2) on a full count into the stands in right-center to give Cleveland a 3-1 lead in the third.

Santana homers and Guardians hold on for 3-2 win over White Sox in unusual finish | iNFOnews.ca
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Sean Burke reaches for the ball as Cleveland Guardians’ Jose Ramirez, center, slides into home plate to score in the first inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Jhonkensy Noel had two hits, including an RBI single in the first inning to snap an 0-for-15 skid.

Chicago took a 1-0 lead in the first when Lenyn Sosa lined a base hit to left-center. The inning was extended earlier when Cleveland third baseman José Ramírez bobbled a potential double-play ball for his sixth error of the season.

Key moment

Ramírez scored on a wild pitch from Burke to give the Guardians a 2-1 lead with two outs in the first. Burke’s changeup went through catcher Korey Lee’s legs. The ball got only 5 feet away from Lee, who was able to throw it quickly to Burke at home, but Ramírez beat the tag.

Key stat

Santana homers and Guardians hold on for 3-2 win over White Sox in unusual finish | iNFOnews.ca
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Sean Burke falls over Cleveland Guardians’ Jose Ramirez, right, as Ramirez slides into home plate to score in the first inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Santana, in his third stint with Cleveland, is batting .286 (12 for 42) with two home runs and four RBIs.

Up next

Chicago right-hander Jonathan Cannon (0-1, 3.12 ERA) faces Cleveland RHP Gavin Williams (0-0, 4.50) on Thursday afternoon in the series finale.

Santana homers and Guardians hold on for 3-2 win over White Sox in unusual finish | iNFOnews.ca
Cleveland Guardians’ Carlos Santana, right, gets a high five from teammate Kyle Manzardo (9) after hitting a home run in the third inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Cleveland, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Santana homers and Guardians hold on for 3-2 win over White Sox in unusual finish | iNFOnews.ca
Chicago White Sox’s Korey Lee grimaces after injuring himself at first base in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Santana homers and Guardians hold on for 3-2 win over White Sox in unusual finish | iNFOnews.ca
Chicago White Sox’s Lenyn Sosa (50) loses his batting helmet as he strikes out in the third inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Santana homers and Guardians hold on for 3-2 win over White Sox in unusual finish | iNFOnews.ca
Cleveland Guardians’ Logan Allen pitches in the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Cleveland, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Santana homers and Guardians hold on for 3-2 win over White Sox in unusual finish | iNFOnews.ca
Chicago White Sox’s Sean Burke pitches in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Santana homers and Guardians hold on for 3-2 win over White Sox in unusual finish | iNFOnews.ca
Chicago White Sox’s Andrew Vaughn is congratulated in the dugout after scoring in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

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