Sandlin Comes In and on an 0-2 Pitch, the Game is Tied 3-3: A Rollercoaster Night at the Ballpark…….
What began as a tightly contested pitchers’ duel turned into a drama-filled affair at Progressive Field Friday night, as the Cleveland Guardians found themselves in a gut-wrenching tie after an 0-2 pitch from reliever Nick Sandlin turned the tide in the late innings of a tense game against the Detroit Tigers.
The Guardians had been clinging to a narrow 3-2 lead entering the top of the eighth inning, with the bullpen summoned to preserve a potential win that would have marked a strong start to their post-All-Star break stretch. But baseball, as it often does, had other plans.
Right-hander Nick Sandlin was called upon to get out of a jam, inheriting a runner on second with one out. Known for his funky delivery and ability to get ground balls, Sandlin has often been manager Stephen Vogt’s go-to option in high-leverage spots. The count quickly went 0-2 against Tigers shortstop Javier Báez, who had struggled all night with off-speed pitches and seemed overmatched early in the at-bat.
Then came the pitch. An 0-2 slider that didn’t slide enough.
Báez jumped on the mistake, sending a sharply hit line drive into the left-center field gap, easily scoring the runner from second and knotting the game at 3-3. The stadium let out a collective groan as the once-electric crowd simmered into anxious murmurs. What had been a near escape turned into a renewed fight for momentum, as the Tigers seized the emotional upper hand.
“I missed my spot. That one’s on me,” Sandlin admitted postgame. “I had him right where I wanted, but I left it up. In this league, you can’t afford to do that.”
Up to that point, Guardians starter Tanner Bibee had been sharp, working six solid innings and allowing just two runs while striking out seven. He exited with a slim lead thanks in part to a clutch two-run double from Josh Naylor in the fifth and a solo shot from José Ramírez in the sixth, who continues his All-Star caliber season.
But the bullpen, which had been a source of strength much of the season, couldn’t hold the line this time. Sandlin’s misfire wasn’t the only hiccup — earlier, a passed ball had allowed a Tigers runner to advance, setting up the eventual scoring play. Though Sam Hentges and Emmanuel Clase managed to hold the Tigers scoreless in the ninth and tenth, Cleveland’s offense couldn’t capitalize on a bases-loaded opportunity in the bottom of the ninth, and stranded two more in the tenth.
“We had our chances,” manager Vogt said. “But games like these come down to execution — pitching, hitting, defense. One pitch, one swing, it can change everything.”
The Guardians remain in second place in the AL Central, narrowly trailing the Minnesota Twins, and every game has taken on playoff implications. The tie score eventually forced extra innings, where both teams battled without resolution before rain halted play in the twelfth. The game will be resumed tomorrow before the originally scheduled Saturday afternoon matchup.
Though it goes down as a no-decision for Sandlin, the weight of the moment loomed large.
Baseball is a game of inches, of decisions made in fractions of a second. One pitch — just one — can mean the difference between a win and a tie, or worse. For Sandlin and the Guardians, Friday night was a stark reminder of just how quickly the game can shift, and how vital every pitch truly is.
The Guardians will look to rebound tomorrow as they attempt to close out the series with renewed focus — and hopefully, tighter execution from the mound.