The Cleveland Guardians beat the Chicago White Sox 1-0 on Tuesday to start a three-game series. Their pitching was dynamite, from Ben Lively to the bullpen. But the offense could not get it going until the ninth. The Guardians loaded the bases, and Nolan Jones won it on a walk-off walk. According to MLB Stats, this is the first walk-off walk in a 1-0 game since 2009.

The Guardians started the inning with a single from Carlos Santana. Then, White Sox closer Mike Clevinger walked the next two batters. That sent Jones to the plate with the bases loaded and no outs in a tie game. After working a full count, Jones walked and won the game. While the offense didn't exactly light the game on fire, a win is a win.

The last walk-off walk was on May 1, 2009, in a game between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers. Russell Martin walked and Orlando Hudson scored to give Los Angeles the victory. Duaner Sanchez surrendered the walk for the Padres in an early-season loss.

For the White Sox, this is a brutal loss to continue a brutal stretch of baseball. For the Guardians, they got great pitching, which is exactly what they had last year. Can their offense improve?

The Guardians have elite pitching once again

Article Continues Below
Related Cleveland Guardians News
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (30) stands in the dugout in the third inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field.
Dodgers’ Dave Roberts reveals what went wrong in 7-4 loss to GuardiansZachary Howell ·
Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) hits a solo home run in the eighth inning of the MLB game between Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Friday, May 16, 2025.
Jose Ramirez’s offensive dominance gets truth bomb from Guardians All-Star teammateRexwell Villas ·
Cleveland Guardians pitcher Shane Bieber is introduced before the home opening game between the Guardians and the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field.
Guardians’ Shane Bieber set for massive step toward injury returnJason Patt ·
Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) walks off the field against the Boston Red Sox in the seventh inning against the Boston Red Sox at Comerica Park.
Tarik Skubal earns ‘best pitcher’ claim from Guardians’ Stephen VogtScotty White ·
Detroit Tigers pitcher Casey Mize throws against the New York Yankees during the fifth inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Monday, April 7, 2025.
Tigers get rotation boost with latest roster movesZachary Howell ·
Cleveland Guardians pinch hitter Brayan Rocchio (4) gets out after three unsuccessful bunt attempts against the Toronto Blue Jays during the ninth inning at Rogers Centre.
3 players Cleveland Guardians fans are already fed up with in 2025Zachary Howell ·
Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Emmanuel Clase (48) throws a pitch during the ninth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field.
Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

At 4-6, the Guardians are struggling to start the year. They went to Anaheim to play the Angels and lost that series, which is a disappointing outcome for any AL team. Their home opener was Tuesday, and their pitching stood up to the test in front of their home crowd. This is especially true for the bullpen in Tuesday's game.

Cade Smith, Paul Sewald, Hunter Gaddis, and Emmanuel Clase came into the game for the Guardians, in that order. They did not allow a hit, let alone a run, to the White Sox over the four innings. That bullpen is the reason they won the AL Central and made the ALCS last year. With that crew shining early, things are looking up for Cleveland.

The Guardians did get some great offensive performances early in the season. Jose Ramirez had a three-homer day in Anaheim and put up seven runs on Opening Day against Kansas City. But to not scratch a run across until the final batter against the White Sox shows issues that could cost them the playoffs.

The Guardians and White Sox continue their series at 6:10 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday.