CLEVELAND -- When the Guardians have needed a hero this season,Brayan Rocchio has answered the call.
The shortstop did it again Tuesday night, walking off the Chicago White Sox with a two-out, two-strike base hit down the left-field line in the ninth inning that plated two runs and turned a 6-5 deficit into a 7-6 Cleveland win.
"I didn't try to do something special in that moment," Rocchio said. "I just tried to put the bat to the ball and see what happens."
It was Rocchio's major league-best fourth walk-off hit this season. And they've all come against AL Central foes, including two now against Chicago and its flamethrowing reliever Grant Taylor (he took the right-hander deep in July).
"He thrives in that moment," teammate Travis Bazzana said of Rocchio. "He's so in control. You feel like the pitcher is at a disadvantage."
Taylor already had given up a hit and a walk in the ninth inning. Rocchio then stepped up and hit a high, 100 mph fastball on an 0-2 count down the left-field line. Rookie Sam Antonacci took a poor route to the ball and it fell just out of his reach, allowing Daniel Schneemann and David Fry to score.
"Pretty dogs---, to be honest," Antonacci said of it. "Just ha...