Rookie Noel homers twice, Guardians outlast Cubs 9-8 in matchup evoking 2016 World Series memories

CLEVELAND (AP) — Josh Naylor drove in José Ramírez with the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and the Cleveland Guardians held on for a 9-8 win over the Chicago Cubs on Monday night in a back-and-forth matchup that evoked memories of their 2016 World Series.

Rookie Jhonkensy Noel hit a three-run homer and solo shot, and he made a diving catch in right field to save a couple runs for the AL Central-leading Guardians, who returned home after splitting a tense, four-game series at second-place Minnesota.

Steven Kwan added a two-run homer as the Guardians improved the league’s best home record to 36-20.

Ramírez opened the eighth with a double off Julian Merryweather (1-1) and pinch-hitter Will Brennan singled before Naylor bounced his base hit into left.

The Cubs led 3-0 and then fell behind 8-3 before tying it with four runs in the seventh and one in the eighth off Cleveland's vaunted bullpen.

While the game didn't have the same drama as the '16 Series, won by the Cubs in seven games, it had plenty of big moments.

Nick Sandlin (7-0) got the last two outs in the eighth before Guardians manager Stephen Vogt brought in closer Emmanuel Clase for the third straight game. Clase set down the Cubs in order for his league-leading 36th save.

Noel's three-run blast in the fourth off Shota Imanaga and onto the pedestrian plaza in Progressive Field came shortly after his sensational catch.

Ian Happ and Pete Crow-Armstrong homered for the Cubs, who are in a stretch of 14 straight games against AL teams.

The Cubs were already up three and threatening in the fourth when Noel came up with his defensive gem.

With two on and two outs, Chicago's Seiya Suzuki lifted a ball to right that was tailing toward the foul line. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound Noel got a decent jump and launched himself to make the catch before sliding face down in the grass.

Noel fell behind 1-2 in the count before he yanked a low splitter over the wall in left for his seventh homer to make it 4-3.

Kwan followed a one-out single by Austin Hedges in the fifth with his 13th homer, a towering shot to right.

Happ celebrated his 30th birthday by hitting a massive, 429-foot homer off Guardians starter Ben Lively.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Cubs: Rookie RHP Ben Brown (neck strain) has been shut down. Manager Craig Counsell said Brown wasn't making progress and the team felt the best next step was complete rest. Counsell said the team doesn't have a timetable on Brown's return, but he isn't ruling him out pitching again this season.

Guardians: LHP Sam Hentges (shoulder) is getting a second opinion on an injury that has limited him to just 25 games this season. Hentges had been on a minor league rehab assignment at Triple-A Columbus.

UP NEXT

Matthew Boyd makes his debut for the Guardians, who signed the left-hander as a free agent in June to give them starting depth. Boyd underwent Tommy John surgery last year. He'll face Cubs RHP Javier Assad (5-3, 3.24 ERA).

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Chicago Cubs' Ian Happ celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a home run in the third inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Chicago Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki collides with the outfield wall after catching a fly ball hit for an out against Cleveland Guardians' David Fry in the second inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' Jose Ramirez bats and makes it safely to first base on a fielding error by Chicago Cubs third baseman Isaac Paredes in the fourth inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Shota Imanaga rubs a baseball between batters in the third inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' Jose Ramirez scores on a single hit by Josh Naylor in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Chicago Cubs' Seiya Suzuki reacts in the dugout after hitting a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Chicago Cubs' Nico Hoerner, left, shouts near of Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Scott Barlow (58) after scoring in the seventh inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Chicago Cubs' Seiya Suzuki, right, is congratulated by first base coach Mike Napoli (55) in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' Steven Kwan gestures as he runs the bases with a home run in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' Jhonkensy Noel, second from right, celebrates after his home run with teammates Jose Ramirez (11) and Josh Naylor (22) in near Chicago Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya, right, in the fourth inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' Jhonkensy Noel gestures as he runs the bases with a home run in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' Jhonkensy Noel celebrates as he crosses home plate with a home run in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha police are investigating a shooting that critically injured a teenage boy Tuesday at a high school in Nebraska's largest city.

Families rushed to Omaha Northwest High School after the shooting was reported by the school resource officer during lunch at 12:23 p.m. Omaha Police Deputy Chief Sherie Thomas said officers quickly responded to the school and found the victim inside.

Thomas said police believe the shooting was an isolated incident between two students. The suspect was arrested three blocks away about half an hour later.

Parents tearfully embraced their kids in the parking lot as the first few started to come out of the school after 1 p.m. Police set up a reunification site at the football stadium, but said it would be a long process to release all the students.

Thomas said a 15-year-old boy was critically injured in the shooting and rushed to a hospital.

One student told KETV that he was coming back to school after lunch and ran as fast as he could when he heard screams and saw people running because he didn't want to die.

Two nearby Catholic high schools — Marian and Roncalli high schools — were also locked down after the shooting, but that was lifted after the arrest.

Artemis Else, right, hugs Angie Caswell as they wait outside Northwest high school after a shooting was reported Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Omaha, Neb. (Megan Nielsen/Omaha World-Herald via AP)

Family members of students at Northwest high school gather and wait for students to be released from the school after a shooting was reported Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Omaha, Neb. (Megan Nielsen/Omaha World-Herald via AP)

Pamela Caraballo, who has a child at the Northwest High School, reacts as she waits outside the school for students to be released after a shooting was reported Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Omaha, Neb. (Megan Nielsen/Omaha World-Herald via AP)

Family members of students at Northwest high school gather and wait for students to be released from the school after a shooting was reported Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Omaha, Neb. (Megan Nielsen/Omaha World-Herald via AP)