Rookie outfielder Kahlil Watson went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, including the go-ahead run-scoring single in the 10th inning as the visiting Cleveland Guardians topped the Chicago White Sox 4-3 on Wednesday, June 24.
Cleveland navigated a wild finish to tie Chicago atop the American League Central and avoid a three-game series sweep.
Shawn Armstrong (2-1) recorded the final four outs while stranding five White Sox runners. Chicago loaded the bases with one out in the 10th but was unable to score. Chase Meidroth bounced into a forceout at the plate, then Braden Montgomery grounded out to first base to end the game.
Cleveland was one out from victory in the ninth before closer Cade Smith, who leads the majors with 24 saves, squandered his second save opportunity of the series.
With two outs in the ninth, Montgomery and Randal Grichuk belted solo homers on back-to-back pitches to forge a 3-3 tie. The next two batters reached before Armstrong entered and retired Miguel Vargas on a flyout to center field to escape further trouble.
Steven Kwan had two hits for the Guardians and preserved a one-run lead with a tumbling catch of a Grichuk line drive to end the seventh. The Guardians went ahead 3-1 in the eighth as Patrick Bailey worked a bases-loaded walk against Joe Rock.
Grant Taylor (2-1) allowed an unearned run in the 10th to take the loss.
Jacob Gonzalez and Vargas had two hits apiece for Chicago.
A rain delay postponed the start of the game by two hours, 40 minutes. Fans who remained at Rate Field for the 4:50 p.m. ET first pitch waited five innings to see any scoring.
Brayan Rocchio singled to open the sixth before the first of two White Sox errors in the inning and a walk loaded the bases.
Erick Fedde fanned Rhys Hoskins for the first out, but Watson lined a two-run single to left field one batter later.
Fedde worked in bulk relief after Chris Murphy served as the opener, retiring the first four Guardians hitters he faced. Fedde scattered two runs, one earned, and five hits in four innings. He walked three and struck out two.
Guardians starter Tanner Bibee spaced three hits with one walk and three strikeouts over six shutout innings in a no-decision.
The White Sox scored their first run in the seventh on a Montgomery sacrifice fly.
Watson finished 5-for-9 with six RBIs in the series. He collected his first major league hit on Monday and belted his first homer on Tuesday.
White Sox look to sweep Guardians after long rain delay
Fueled by successive one-run victories over the rival Cleveland Guardians, the Chicago White Sox have won nine consecutive home series.
On Wednesday afternoon, June 24, Chicago will try for a sweep in an American League Central showdown that has seen the team grab a one-game division lead over Cleveland.
The White Sox have won 22 of their past 26 games at Rate Field entering the finale of a three-game series.
“The fans, you know,” Chicago manager Will Venable said of the crowds, which have averaged 26,017 in the first two games of the series. “These guys respond to our fans, who are coming out and just doing a great job of giving them energy, and we’ve seen it every night we’ve been here.”
Cleveland out-hit Chicago 6-3 on Tuesday but lost 2-1. Kahlil Watson and Austin Hedges contributed two hits apiece, with Watson delivering his first career home run.
Starter Parker Messick allowed just two hits and struck out a career-high 10 batters in 7⅔ innings, but the Guardians couldn’t break through against White Sox pitchers Sean Burke and Sean Newcomb.
“I think we’re playing the guys that we want to play, and I think we’re matching up when we need to, when we have to,” Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said of his offense. “But we’ve got to trust all 13 [position players] like we are. We’re figuring it out, but we’re just not getting anything going right now, and it’s tough.”
Miguel Vargas’ go-ahead solo home run leading off the sixth inning — his career-best 17th homer of the season — was the difference for Chicago.
“Vargy just continues to make good swing decisions, and he’s putting really good swings on good pitches to hit,” Venable said.
Colson Montgomery drove in Chicago’s first run with an RBI single, stopping a slide of four straight games without a hit.
Right-hander Tanner Bibee (2-8, 4.03 ERA) will start for the Guardians on Wednesday as he aims to win for the third time in four starts this month.
After blazing through Texas and Detroit, allowing two runs and five hits in 15 innings to begin the month, Bibee took the loss at Houston on June 19. He yielded four runs (three earned) and four hits in 5⅓ innings, with two walks and seven strikeouts. He left with the lead, but the bullpen was unable to preserve it, as Cleveland fell 9-3.
“Obviously, I want to stay out there,” Bibee said. “But, like I’ve said before, it’s Vogt’s job to tell me when I’m done. He told me I was done.”
Bibee has pitched effectively against the White Sox in his career, going 4-0 with a 4.06 ERA in five starts, with 30 strikeouts in 31 innings.
Right-hander Erick Fedde (2-6, 4.46 ERA) is set to start for the White Sox on Wednesday after working in bulk relief in his past three outings. He suffered the loss at Detroit on Friday, allowing two runs and four hits in 4⅔ innings with one walk and four strikeouts in a 4-3 defeat.
After yielding at least one home run in nine of his 10 appearances in April and May, Fedde has allowed just one in 17⅓ innings this month.
He is 2-0 with a 3.52 ERA in five career appearances against Cleveland covering 23 innings, including four starts.
The Akron Beacon Journal sports department can be contacted via email at bjsports@thebeaconjournal.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians score vs. White Sox. Khalil Watson leads Cleveland over Chicago
Reporting by Field Level Media, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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By Field Level Media, Akron Beacon Journal | USA TODAY Network
