Euro 2024: Schedule, How To Watch, Squads, Groups, Reaction
CLEVELAND -- — All-Star Steven Kwan homered, went 3 for 4 with two RBI and officially took over as the majors' leading hitter while sending the Cleveland Guardians to an 8-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday.
Kwan connected for his eighth homer leading off the third inning against 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 lead after missing a month with a hamstring injury.
He's now batting .367 — 48 points ahead of Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani, who is second and played Thursday night. Kwan also has 12 three-hit games, the most in the AL.
“It's really cool,” Kwan said when asked about being the game's leading hitter. "It’s a bigger indicator that the injury’s kind of behind now. That was a big thing. That was kind of not my identity, but that was definitely a big thing on my mind.
“It’s nice to see there’s some space between me and the injury.”
On Wednesday, the 26-year-old Kwan was named an All-Star starter for the first time. In the series finale, he also drove in a run with a bases-loaded walk.
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt has run out of superlatives to describe his left fielder
“Kwannie just continues to dazzle,” Vogt said.
Josh Naylor, Bo Naylor and Andrés Giménez drove in two runs apiece for Cleveland.
Ben Lively (8-4) limited the White Sox to three runs and six hits in six innings. The right-hander, whose signing as a free agent in December barely made a ripple, is 5-0 in six starts at Progressive Field.
He's the first Cleveland starter to win five consecutive home starts since Corey Kluber in 2016.
Lively, who spent three years pitching in Korea, has allowed three runs or less in 13 of his 14 starts. He entered the season with just eight wins.
When he signed, the Guardians told him to expect to pitch in long relief. He has taken the starter's role and run with it.
“I could have been here for two weeks,” he said. “It’s just the way it goes. I just don’t want to look back.”
Paul DeJong hit a two-run homer and Lenyn Sosa a solo shot for the White Sox, who lost their ninth consecutive road series and fell to 25-64 —- 31 games behind Cleveland.
Kwan opened the third with a towering shot into the right-field seats. He hit just 11 homers combined in his first two seasons, but has focused on pulling inside pitches.
The Guardians tacked on three more runs in the third against Anderson as manager Pedro Grifol went with a bullpen game in the series finale.
Kwan, who has been in a bit of a slump lately (he came in 5 for 28 in his last seven games), singled 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 make a rehab start on Friday for Triple-A Charlotte. Clevinger was initially sidelined by right elbow issue before his neck flared up. Barring a setback, he's expected to rejoin the rotation next week.
Guardians: Reliever Nick Sandlin (back inflammation) was activated from the injured list, giving manager Stephen Vogt back one of his key bullpen pieces. He gave up a homer in the ninth. To make roster space, right-hander Eli Morgan was optioned to Triple-A Columbus. ... OF Will Brennan (rib cage inflammation) remains sidelined with an injury that wasn't expected to keep him out long.
UP 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.
------
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
CostcoTable3 0d17c0cef8cc486c082634573743ae07 Oak Dining Chairs Fabric Dining Chairs Carson Carrington Kouvola Upholstered Dining Chair Set Of 2 Bcd1c85b Efeb 4467 A21f F06d3d6d418d ?impolicy=mediumCostco 2000743 Universal Furniture Fabric Accent Chair1 Bean Bag Chairs From Costco 46382620114974 ImageService?profileId=12026540&imageId=1153493 847 1&recipeName=350ImageService?profileId=12026539&imageId=1262737 894 1&recipeName=350078f7264c214a146429d530e131cb41b 50807041163294 F55b6c0fbccae68ec008c25e3f3e318c 717DFvVTC L. AC SL1500 ImageService?profileId=12026539&imageId=100688104 894 1&recipeName=350Ea894a936fd420498da3ff9a0e3e2aaf CJdhm RzxSFesmYOWSbPx1bA6K4d1lJz Bp41Dz RFs ?auto=webp&s=90b78cf5d72995c0bd1f2ceb509bb254239faff2Annora Dining Chairs 93c6613b9c449f0b4de38203283ee9e3 Costco Dining Side Chairs Costco Natuzzi Group Leather Push Back Recliner Chair 727737.JPG17574070845470 Dining Chairs Pack 4 Costco 727756 Simon Li Leather Glider Recliner Chair F8e38ced29bbe9143df3d1d2ed79f33b Costco Dining Chairs Costco 253029 Meco Deluxe Folding Chair Radded Maxresdefault ImageService?profileId=12026540&imageId=1356675 847 1&recipeName=350ImageService?profileId=12026540&imageId=1150812 847 1&recipeName=350Furniture Outdoor Lounge Chairs Costco Costco Furniture Dining Inside Rocking Chairs At Costco ImageService?profileId=12026539&imageId=100852137 894 1&recipeName=35028113361127640df5af242a18e352dab 712jflrWtTL ImageService?profileId=12026539&imageId=1220870 894 1&recipeName=350Costco Folding Chair Maxchief Padded Price E1ba8a6aaad28190e6233d4fac67cdd4