CLEVELAND (AP) — Amed Rosario homered early and singled in the winning run in the 11th inning for his third hit of the game as the Cleveland Guardians beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-5 on Monday night.
Rosario hit a line drive past a diving Christian Walker at first base and into right field to score rookie Will Benson from third, setting off a celebration behind the mound.
The Guardians trail first-place Minnesota by just a game in the AL Central despite being the youngest team in baseball.
“I’m not sure they check your age when you’re in the batter’s box in the 10th inning,” manager Terry Francona said.
Rosario, who launched a two-run homer in the third, lined a 1-0 pitch from Mark Melancon (3-10), the Diamondbacks’ 10th pitcher. Benson began the inning as the automatic runner at second and moved to third on Austin Hedges’ bunt.
Steven Kwan walked and stole second, but Myles Straw grounded out before Rosario gave Cleveland its fifth walk-off win of the season.
Rosario said there’s a sense of excitement in Cleveland’s dugout late in close games.
“You’re always going to have that vibe with that energy,” he said through a translator. “It’s easier to play with that energy.”
Arizona advanced a runner to third with one out in the 11th, but Sam Hentges (3-2) retired Jake McCarthy on a lineout, and pinch-hitter Buddy Kennedy struck out.
The Diamondbacks pushed across the go-ahead run in the 10th when Ketel Marte hit into a double play, but Andrés Giménez tied it with an RBI single — his fourth hit to go along with a career-high three stolen bases.
The ball was flying out of Progressive Field early on an 84-degree night. Daulton Varsho’s solo home run put Arizona ahead in the second, but Owen Miller’s two-run shot gave…
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