Lenyn Sosa and Paul DeJong home run in White Sox 8-4 loss to Guardians originally appeared in NBC Sports Chicago
CLEVELAND (AP) — All-Star Steven Kwan singled, went 3 for 4 with two RBIs and officially took over as the majors’ leading hitter as he sent the Cleveland Guardians to an 8-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox On thursday.
Kwan hit his eighth home run in the third inning off Justin Anderson as the AL Central-leading Guardians took two of three in the series and improved baseball’s best home record to 28-10.
Although his average has been over .350 for most of the season — he recently flirted with .400 — Kwan didn’t have enough at-bats to qualify for the MLB leadoff after missing a month with a hamstring injury.
He is now batting .367 and has 12 three-hit games, the most in the AL.
On Wednesday, the 26-year-old Kwan was named an All-Star starter for the first time. He also ran in a bases-loaded walk in the fifth.
Josh Naylor, Bo Naylor and Andrés Giménez each drove in two runs for Cleveland.
Ben Lively (8-4) limited the White Sox to three runs and six hits in six innings. The right-hander, whose free agent signing in December barely made an impact, is 5-0 in six starts at Progressive Field.
Lively has allowed three runs or fewer in 13 of his 14 starts. He entered the season with just eight wins.
Paul DeJong hit a two-run home run and Lenyn Sosa hit a solo shot for the White Sox, who lost their ninth straight road series and fell to 25-64 — 31 games behind Cleveland.
Kwan opened the third with a high shot into the right field seats. He hit just 11 home runs combined in his first two seasons, but focused on hitting inside pitches.
The Guardians tacked on three more runs in the third against Anderson as manager Pedro Grifol threw a bullpen game in the series finale.
Kwan, who has been on a tear lately (he’s 5-for-28 in his last seven games), scored in his first at-bat. The Guardians threatened to have a big first inning against Sox starter Jared Shuster (1-1), but only scored once on Josh Naylor’s RBI single.
TRAINER’S ROOM
White Sox: RHP Mike Clevinger will begin rehab Friday for Triple-A Charlotte. Clevinger was initially sidelined with a right elbow issue before his neck exploded. Barring a setback, he should return to the rotation next week.
Guardians: Reliever Nick Sandlin (back inflammation) has been activated from the injured list, giving manager Stephen Vogt back one of his key bullpen pieces. He gave up a home run in the ninth. To make room on the roster, right-hander Eli Morgan was picked up by Triple-A Columbus. … OF Will Brennan (rib cage inflammation) remains sidelined with an injury that shouldn’t keep him out for long.
NEXT
White Sox: Head to Miami for a three-game series with RHP Drew Thorpe (2-1, 4.43 ERA) starting the opener.
Guardians: RHP Tanner Bibee (7-2, 3.47) starts the opener of a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants, who have won 13 of 15 against Cleveland since the start of the 2021 season.
