Cleveland Guardians beat Arizona Diamondbacks 5-0 in rain‑delay, benches‑clearing game

The Cleveland Guardians defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-0 at Progressive Field on August 2, 2026. Starting pitcher Gavin Williams retired the first 15 hitters and struck out 10, carrying a perfect‑game bid into the sixth inning. Diamondbacks outfielder Tim Tawa attempted a bunt to break up the bid, fouled it, then lined a single that ended the perfect‑game attempt.

Shortly after the hit, a heated exchange erupted between the teams. Guardians catcher Patrick Bailey and shortstop Brayan Rocchio confronted Tawa, and as rain intensified the grounds crew began rolling out the tarp. The benches cleared during the rain delay, with managers Stephen Vogt and Torey Lovullo exchanging words before calm was restored. The delay lasted 1 hour 34 minutes before play resumed, and the Guardians held on for the shutout.

The win moved Cleveland a half‑game ahead of the Minnesota Twins for the final American League wild‑card spot, while Arizona fell to the second National League wild‑card position, tied with the Philadelphia Phillies. The game was notable for the rare benches‑clearing incident during a rain delay and the near‑perfect performance by Williams, the first such streak since Shohei Ohtani in 2022.