CLEVELAND, Ohio — For Cleveland baseball fans, Citi Field has been a house of horrors since it opened in 2009. The Guardians entered Monday night’s game with an abysmal 0-6 record at the Mets’ home ballpark, their last New York victory coming at the long-demolished Shea Stadium behind a CC Sabathia start in June of 2004.
That streak of futility is finally over.
“They’ve played some ugly baseball at Citi Field,” said Cleveland.com’s Paul Hoynes on the latest Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast, reflecting on the significance of the Guardians’ thrilling 7-6 extra-inning victory.
“I can remember them losing some one-run games and having just some tough luck there,” Hoynes recalled.
The historic win didn’t come easily. After building a 5-3 lead on Gabriel Arias’ monster 440-foot three-run homer in the sixth inning, Cleveland saw Hunter Gaddis surrender the advantage in the eighth. But the resilient Guardians weren’t finished.
In what’s becoming their signature style, Cleveland dominated in extra innings once again. The win improved their remarkable extra-inning record to 9-5 this season, with six of those victories coming on the road. Since 2022, the Guards lead MLB with an astounding 43 extra-inning wins — 10 more than any other club.
“That shows you how difficult it is,” Hoynes explained regarding their road extra-inning success. “If you’re the visitor on the road, you’ve really got to work to score multiple runs in that 10th inning to put the pressure on the home team.”
The victory featured several elements of classic “Guards ball” – clutch hitting, defensive wizardry, and bullpen heroics. Brayan Rocchio made a game-saving play at second base in the eighth inning with the infield drawn in, preventing the Mets from taking the lead. Stephen Kwan snapped out of an 0-for-11 slump with a couple of hits. And in the decisive tenth, Arias delivered again with a sacrifice fly that proved to be the difference.
For a Cleveland team that entered the series with a dispiriting 8-16 all-time record against the Mets, breaking through at Citi Field represents more than just another win. It’s a psychological barrier shattered and perhaps a sign that this year’s squad might be building toward something special.
The victory prompted a jubilant celebration in the Guardians clubhouse, particularly for Nic Enright, who earned his first major league save. But there was also a collective sense of relief at finally conquering a ballpark that had become their kryptonite.
“This was a good one to come out ahead and break that jinx,” Hoynes said.
Cleveland is still 0-4 in the playoffs since 2007 against the other team that calls New York home.
But with the Citi Field curse finally lifted, the Guardians can focus on what matters most – continuing their push toward the postseason. And if they can overcome their long-running hex in Queens, perhaps anything is possible for this resilient Cleveland club.
To hear Hoynes and Joe Noga’s complete breakdown of the historic win, including Gabriel Arias’s clutch performances and Nick Enright’s emotional save, check out the latest episode of the Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast, available now wherever you get your podcasts.
Podcast transcript
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