The Cleveland Guardians bullpen threw some cold water into a late Kansas City Royals’ rally and secured a 6-2 win on Sunday behind a rock-solid outing from their ace, Tanner Bibee.
Bibee, pitching three days later than initially planned due to a bout of acute gastroenteritis on Thursday, tossed 5.2 scoreless frames and made sure the Guardians scored the series win in Kauffman Stadium.
Cleveland had won the opener on Thursday and fell on Saturday.
They are showing that they are much more than just an elite bullpen.
Three core members of the Guardians hit home runs on Sunday: Kyle Manzardo (his second of the season in what appears to be a breakthrough year) Gabriel Arias, and Daniel Schneemann.
When you hit three homers and your starter tosses 5.2 scoreless innings, the odds are on your side almost every time.
Bibee only surrendered a couple of hits and two walks, striking out two Royals.
After Tim Herrin bailed him out in the sixth, Joey Cantillo took care of the seventh before encountering some issues in the eighth.
With Cleveland up 6-0 in the bottom of that inning, a throwing error by Arias allowed Dairon Blanco to reach base to lead off things.
After that, Cantillo allowed consecutive singles to Jonathan India and Bobby Witt Jr. (the latter even producing a run) before a walk to Vinnie Pasquantino brought Hunter Gaddis into the game.
One of Cantillo’s inherited runners scored, but Gaddis got three huge outs in a bases-loaded situation, giving his team a chance to win and letting Emmanuel Clase finish things off in the ninth.
Cleveland will now travel to San Diego to play a three-game set there, from Monday to Wednesday.
NEXT: Former Guardians Player Makes A Big Prediction About Team This Season
