Bo Naylor's sac fly in 9th sends AL Central-leading Guardians to 7-6 win over lowly White Sox
CLEVELAND - Pinch-hitter Bo Naylor delivered a sacrifice fly to center field with one out in the ninth inning, sending the Cleveland Guardians to a 7-6 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night.
Andrés Giménez opened the ninth with a single off Michael Kopech (2-7), went to second on a groundout to first and took third on a wild pitch by the right-hander.
Naylor, who has bumped his average over .200 by hitting .304 in his last 15 games, then lifted a 3-2 pitch deep enough to score Giménez without a throw from center fielder Luis Robert Jr.
Rookie Daniel Schneemann and Tyler Freeman hit two-run homers for the Guardians, who won their seventh straight at Progressive Field and improved MLB’s best home record to 27-9.
They also evened their record this season to 4-4 against the lowly White Sox, who have the majors’ worst record (24-63).
Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase (4-1) pitched a 1-2-3 ninth, helped by a diving catch from Freeman in center.
Robert hit a two-run homer and drove in four runs for Chicago. Andrew Vaughn also homered for the White Sox.
Down 6-3, the White Sox tied it in the seventh on an RBI double by Lenyn Sosa and Robert's two-run single, which came moments after Chicago manager Pedro Grifol was tossed.
Pinch-hitter Tommy Pham was angry at a called third strike, and Grifol fought for him before getting tossed by plate umpire Emil Jimenez.
Batting leadoff for just the second time this season, Robert tied it 3-all in the sixth with his homer.
Vaughn gave the White Sox a 1-0 lead in the first inning with his 11th homer, a 417-foot shot into the bleachers in left-center.
Chicago nearly scored again in the second, but second baseman Giménez made a strong relay throw to the plate to get Paul DeJong trying to score from first on Sosa's two-out double.
END OF AN ERA
A die-hard Golden State fan, Guardians manager Stephen Vogt was sad that Klay Thompson left the team as a free agent after 11 seasons.
"It’s going to be weird not seeing Klay in a Warriors uniform," Vogt said. "My son cried a little bit. He’s got a Klay Thompson jersey he wears about three days a week to school."
SURPRISE MOVE
Grifol was shocked to learn Tim Anderson, an AL batting champion with Chicago in 2019, was designated for assignment by Miami.
The 31-year-old batted just .214 in 65 games for the Marlins.
"I believe in Timmy," Grifol said. "I believe in the kid. I believe in the heart. I believe in the talent, and I hope he gets an opportunity to get back out there and play the game I know he really loves."
Anderson was twice an All-Star in eight seasons with Chicago, which declined a $14 million option on him in the off-season.
UP NEXT
Guardians RHP Gavin Williams makes his season debut after being sidelined with an elbow injury. He'll face White Sox RHP Erick Fedde (5-3, 3.23), who has been mentioned in numerous trade rumors ahead of the June 30 deadline.
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