"In the bottom of the ninth inning Sunday night, the hosting Cleveland Guardians controlled their own fate. With a win, they would clinch a playoff berth, something that had seemed all but impossible at the end of August, when they were under .500. The bases were loaded improbably. With two outs, the Texas Rangers gave up a walk, a single, and another walk (this one intentional) in a tie game."
"C.J. Kayfus-a rookie hitting .221- was in the box. Again, the Guardians had the bases loaded with two outs in a tie game in the bottom of the ninth. The first pitch from the Rangers' Robert Garcia was a strike, but the second was a four-seam fastball out of control. It streaked its way up and in. Kayfus turned his shoulder to the mound intentionally away from the rising ball and it hit him right on the back of the right forearm."
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Cleveland had the bases loaded with two outs and a tie score. The Rangers allowed a walk, a single, and an intentional walk to create the jam, and Robert Garcia's second pitch—a four-seam fastball—struck C.J. Kayfus on the back of his right forearm, forcing in the winning run. That result clinched a playoff berth for Cleveland and simultaneously eliminated the Houston Astros from postseason contention. The sequence is criticized as poor competitiveness by an eliminated team, and strong disgust is voiced toward the Astros for their past illegal sign-stealing scheme.
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