The Cleveland Guardians lost for the third straight game on Tuesday night, 2-1, at the hands of the surging Chicago White Sox at Rate Field. It was the second game of their series, and the defeat means Cleveland is no longer first in the AL Central.
The 41-37 White Sox have officially leapfrogged the 41-39 Guardians, who had another rough night offensively, racking up just six hits and two walks.
Final.#GuardsBall | #VoteGuards pic.twitter.com/padBrZJHcH
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) June 24, 2026
The Guardians have now dropped four of their last five, six of their last eight, and 12 of their last 17. To say that the team is struggling would be an understatement.
Left-hander Parker Messick did his best to keep the talented White Sox to just two runs in 7.2 innings, but he had no support whatsoever from his offense. The rookie allowed just three hits and walked one, with a whopping 10 strikeouts.
The White Sox, however, enjoyed an inspiring performance by Sean Burke, who surrendered a single run in 6.1 frames, and reliever Sean Newcomb, who held the Guardians scoreless for 2.2 innings.
The home club scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth. Randal Grichuk hit a one-out double and crossed home plate on a Colson Montgomery RBI single.
Surging rookie Khalil Watson greeted Burke with a solo home run in the top of the fifth, tying the game. After Monday’s back-and-forth affair, fans were already bracing for another close finish.
Miguel Vargas, however, had the last word in the bottom of the sixth, with a solo shot against Messick that put the game 2-1. Neither squad would score again.
Messick came one out shy of the complete game with his 7.2-inning effort. Colin Holderman got the remaining out with no issues.
Besides Watson’s homer, Steven Kwan and Austin Hedges doubled for the Guardians.
Cleveland will now have to catch Chicago in the standings, as they fell one game behind. The Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers, and Kansas City Royals are all lurking, too.
Perhaps it’s time for the Guardians to take a serious look at the trade market and bring in someone before their season slips away. The two teams will face off again on Wednesday for the finale, as Cleveland will try to avoid a sweep. Tanner Bibee will toe the rubber for the Guardians, and Erick Fedde will do so for the White Sox.
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