Ben Lively and four relievers teamed up for a four-hit performance, while Brayan Rocchio drove in the go-ahead run with an RBI single, leading the AL Central-leading Cleveland Guardians to a 2-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.
The Guardians are now four games ahead of second-place Kansas City in their division and have lowered their magic number for securing a playoff spot to three.
Cade Smith, Tim Herrin, Hunter Gaddis, and Emmanuel Clase completed Cleveland’s 12th shutout of the season. Clase earned his career-high 45th save, taking over the major league lead from St. Louis’ Ryan Helsley and coming within one save of Jose Mesa’s franchise record.
“Saves are really important because it’s allowed me to help the team the way I want, which is trying to get a championship,” Clase said through an interpreter. “That’s my responsibility. I know that’s the time I’m going to come to pitch and that’s what I have to prepare to perform.”
Lively (12-9) pitched five-plus innings in his best start in seven weeks, allowing two hits in the first inning and two more in the sixth. The right-hander struck out two batters before being removed after 59 pitches, but he was fine with handing the game over to the bullpen.
“When they come in, you’re like, we’re getting this W,” Lively said. “They’re electric and it’s so cool. And Emmanuel is the best pitcher in baseball. It’s unbelievable. It’s nuts.”
Rocchio’s single drove in Daniel Schneemann in the second inning, giving the Guardians a 1-0 lead. They added another run in the fourth inning when Angel Martínez scored during a delayed double-steal attempt, even though José Ramírez was thrown out at second base.
Tampa Bay, which went 4-6 on a 10-game road trip through Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Cleveland, fell 6 1/2 games behind the final AL wild-card spot with 12 games remaining.
