Guardians edge Rays 2-0 behind Lively and strong bullpen
- Ben Lively and four relievers combined to limit the Rays to four hits in a shutout victory.
- Brayan Rocchio's RBI single and a delayed double-steal contributed to the Guardians' two runs.
- Cleveland's win reduces their magic number for playoff clinching, while Tampa Bay struggles to stay in the wild-card race.
On Sunday, the Cleveland Guardians secured a 2-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays, showcasing a strong performance from Ben Lively and the bullpen. Lively pitched five-plus innings, allowing only four hits and striking out two batters, marking his best outing in seven weeks. The Guardians took the lead in the second inning with an RBI single from Brayan Rocchio, scoring Daniel Schneemann. They extended their lead in the fourth inning through a delayed double-steal, despite José Ramírez being thrown out at second base. The Guardians' bullpen, consisting of Cade Smith, Tim Herrin, Hunter Gaddis, and Emmanuel Clase, maintained the shutout, with Clase earning his career-high 45th save. This performance not only helped the Guardians achieve their 12th shutout of the season but also reduced their magic number for clinching a playoff berth to four. The win solidified their position as the AL Central leaders. On the other hand, Rays starter Taj Bradley struggled, suffering his seventh consecutive loss after allowing two runs in 4 1/3 innings. Tampa Bay's recent performance has been disappointing, finishing a 10-game road trip with a 4-6 record and falling 6.5 games behind the final AL wild-card spot with only 12 games remaining. The Guardians continue to excel at home, boasting the best home record in the American League at 45-27. Meanwhile, the Rays face challenges with injuries, including Christopher Morel's absence due to right Achilles discomfort. The teams are set to continue their seasons with upcoming matchups, as the Guardians prepare for a series against the Twins and the Rays face the Red Sox.