Guardians pitchers were dealing in today’s 2-0 shutout against the Tampa Bay Rays.
With the combination of Ben Lively through five and the bullpen splitting up the rest of the four innings, the Rays were only able to produce four hits on the afternoon.
Guardian's offense almost doubled the Rays hits, earning seven hits through the nine. Brayan Rocchio (1-for-3, RBI) with an RBI for the second-straight game, got the first run across the plate on a run-scoring single in the bottom of the second.
Later on in the fifth, Jose Ramierz (2-for-4, 2B) attempted to steal second but came up short. Nevertheless, Angel Martinez (2-for-3, BB, R) was sitting at third and used the throwdown situation to steal home, adding the second run of the afternoon for the Guardians.
With today’s win, the Guardians magic number dropped to four to clinch a postseason spot. Clinching the AL-Central will prove to be a bit tougher for Cleveland, having to take 10 in the final 12 games. Not impossible, but a big task to take on.
Ben back like he never left- During his last start at Chicago, Ben Lively fired 2.0 scoreless innings. His time on the mound was cut short with an injury scare, taking a comeback ball to his right thigh on the final play in the second inning. Lively was helped off the field to end his outing. Fortunately for the righty, the only damage he was left with was a bruise.
Coming into the day, head pitching coach Carl Willis said Lively was still a little sore and they would monitor him closely on the mound, but all-in-all Lively felt like he was good to go.
Lively was right in what he felt, throwing 5.0 scoreless innings, retiring 11-straight hitters from the second to the fifth inning, while catching a career high of 12 wins.
“Ben Lively was awesome. He was efficient,” said Stephen Vogt. “Really he was doing whatever he wanted with any pitch and getting weak contact.”
Career high Clase- It seems like almost every game Clase pitches he earns a new career high or breaks some kind of Guardians all-time record.
Today the closer earned his 45th save of the season, setting a new single season career high. Not only a personal best, but now also taking over the second place spot for most saves by a Clevelander in a single year, trailing Jose Mesa’s 46 saves (1995) for the first place honors.
“He’s unreal. He’s one of the most fun pitchers I've ever seen in my life. He’s the same guy every single time he’s on the mound,” said Lively.
His confidence and stature that remains consistent in any situation has now landed him with 32-straight consecutive saves, the second most in club history behind Mesa (46,1995), and longest by any MLB reliever in a single season since Wade Miley tallied 32-straight in 2017.
The streak had Vogt thinking back to the club's last outing with Minnesota. Clase managed his way out of a bases loaded situation to save the game. “He was the only one who wasn’t nervous in the whole building and it just speaks to his confidence in himself and the ability to make pitches when he needs to.
Up Next- Guardians continue their homestand, starting a four game series with the Minnesota Twins on Monday. LHP Matthew Boyd (2-1, 2.18) scheduled to start in the first game of the series for Cleveland. Boyd matches up with Twins RHP Pablo Lopez (15-8,3.88). First pitch of the series scheduled for 6:40 p.m.
