When Cleveland Guardians starter Ben Lively had to come out of the game with a thigh contusion after just two innings, the team knew the bullpen had to come through to get the win in Chicago against the White Sox.
After all, they were facing the worst team in the league and letting a game slip away, no matter the circumstances, could have been painful in the grand scheme of things.
Fortunately for Cleveland, the relief corps were outstanding on Tuesday, just like they have been all season, and propelled a 5-0 victory to keep the division cushion in 3.5 due to the Kansas City Royals’ win against the New York Yankees.
Pedro Avila took the ball immediately after Lively left and tossed two scoreless frames
Then, it was Eli Morgan with 1.2, Cade Smith with 0.2, Tim Herrin 0.2; and Hunter Gaddis and Erik Sabrowski with a clean inning apiece.
The best bullpen in baseball doing its thing…again. #Guardians
— Nick Camino (@NickCaminoWKYC) September 11, 2024
It was a true bullpen masterpiece with just enough offense to take the victory.
The game was actually close until the sixth inning.
Cleveland had just scored a single run off stater Jonathan Cannon up until the sixth inning.
There, with men on base that Cannon left, Guardians trade acquisition Lane Thomas socked a three-run homer that put a little separation between the two squads.
LANE LANE LANE LANE!#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/DpcYUR28Gr
— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) September 11, 2024
Andres Giménez, who is surging at the plate at the right time like Thomas, plated Steven Kwan with a ninth-inning single to cap off the scoring.
The Guardians will go for the sweep on Wednesday, when they send red-hot lefty Matt Boyd to face Davis Martin.
NEXT: Sam Hentges' Injury Opens Up An Opportunity For Fellow Lefty
