Triston McKenzie's strong start wasted, Cleveland Guardians offense continues to struggle
CHICAGO — The first-place Cleveland Guardians have lost three in a row for the first time this season, losing all three to the last-place team in their division.
The White Sox beat the Guardians 3-1 Saturday night, their third straight win to open the four-game series. Chicago goes for the sweep Sunday afternoon, as Cleveland's lead in the AL Central is down to a half game.
Nicky Lopez, Martin Maldonado and Andrew Benintendi drove in runs and three pitchers combined on 4 1/3 innings of hitless relief as the White Sox won their fourth straight game. After needing 28 games to earn their first six victories, the White Sox have won six of eight.
Mike Clevinger gave the White Sox a solid start before relievers Tim Hill (1-0), Jared Shuster and John Brebbia walked one and struck out four. Brebbia pitched a perfect ninth for his first save.
Andrew Vaughn singled twice for Chicago (12-28), which outhit Cleveland 7-4.
The Guardians (24-16) have been limited to six runs in the series, with all six scoring via a home run.
A Josh Naylor solo home run accounted for their lone run Saturday. Naylor blasted an opposite-field homer to left field with two outs in the fourth, cutting Chicago's lead to 2-1. It marked the first time Cleveland had scored against Chicago starting pitching in the series; Erick Fedde and Garrett Crochet tossed six scoreless innings on Thursday and Friday, respectively.
That was the only run allowed by Clevinger, a former star for the Guardians who was far more effective in his second outing of the season. After lasting just two-plus innings Monday, the right-hander pitched 4.2 innings, giving up four hits and striking out five. He walked none, throwing 52 of his 73 pitches for strikes.
The Chicago bullpen did the rest.
Cleveland starter Triston McKenzie pitched well in defeat, retiring the final 14 batters he faced. He pitched 6.2 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and three walks. He struck out five after early struggles.
McKenzie walked the first two batters he faced but escaped unscathed with two strikeouts and a groundout. In the second, McKenzie (2-3) yielded three straight hits that led to a pair of Chicago runs.
Lopez collected his first RBI of the season when he lined a run-scoring double to right field. Lopez advanced to third base on an error by Cleveland's Will Brennan and scored when Maldonado hit a single one batter later.
McKenzie allowed the first two White Sox to reach base in the third but recovered again, setting down the side to begin his stretch of 14 consecutive batters retired. He ended his night with a strikeout of Maldonado.
Benintendi provided insurance for Chicago with a sacrifice fly in the eighth.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Cleveland Guardians lose 3rd straight to Chicago White Sox
