Carlos Santana drove in four runs and rookie C.J. Kayfus delivered a three-run double, leading the Cleveland Guardians to a 9-5 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Friday night for their fourth consecutive win.
The Guardians wasted no time, erupting for five runs in the first inning against White Sox starter Aaron Civale (3-7). After a walk and a double, Kyle Manzardo was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Santana followed with a double to score two, and after a walk reloaded the bases, Kayfus cleared them with a double of his own for a 5-0 lead.
Cleveland’s offense continued its assault in the third inning when Manzardo doubled and scored on a single by Santana. The lead grew to 8-1 in the fourth after Kayfus led off with another double, later scoring on a balk, and Daniel Schneemann hit an RBI single that ended Civale’s night. Santana capped his RBI total with a bases-loaded walk in the fifth.
Civale’s recent success came to an abrupt halt. After entering the game with a 15-inning scoreless streak, he was tagged for nine runs on eight hits in just 3 1/3 innings.
The White Sox got on the board in the third inning with a solo home run from Brooks Baldwin, his seventh of the season. They added two more runs in the sixth on a single by Curtis Mead, which chased Guardians starter Tanner Bibee.
Bibee (8-9) earned the win, allowing four runs on five hits and four walks over 5 1/3 innings. The Cleveland bullpen effectively closed out the game, with Corey Julks making a notable contribution off the bench by becoming the first Guardians player since 1936 to record two doubles and two runs as a substitute.
With the victory, Cleveland (60-55) has now won eight of its last 11 games. In contrast, Chicago (42-74) has dropped five straight and eight of its last 12 contests.
The series continues Saturday with Guardians LHP Joey Cantillo (2-2, 4.37 ERA) scheduled to face White Sox RHP Sean Burke (4.23 ERA).
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