CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Even the state of limbo can’t stop the streak.
The Guardians have been stuck in limbo since clinching the AL Central on Sept. 25 against Texas at Globe Life Field. Nine games to prepare for Friday and the start of their three-game wild card series, which will be against Tampa Bay after Seattle clinched the second wild card spot by beating Detroit in the first game of a doubleheader Tuesday night and the Rays lost a rain-shortened game against Boston.
Before all that transpired, Cal Quantrill and the Guards kept the streak intact by beating Kansas City, 5-3, at Progressive Field.
Quantrill (15-5, 3.38) pitched five innings in his final start of the regular season to extend his two-front streak. He is 11-0 with a 2.94 ERA in his last 17 starts going back to July 11.
In the second part of the streak, Quantrill remained undefeated in his career at Progressive Field. He is 14-0 with a 2.88 ERA in 44 appearances, including 34 starts, on the corner of Carnegie and Ontario.
Quantrill’s unbeaten streak at Progressive Field matches the longest by a pitcher at one ballpark since 1901. Vic Raschi went 14-0 at Comiskey Park from 1947-1955.
It is the longest streak ever at Progressive Field, passing Charlie Nagy’s 13-gamer from July 3, 1995 to June 20, 1996.
“I spent a couple of weeks trying to come up with a good answer for you,” said Quantrill, when asked about the Progressive Field streak. “I don’t know. I try to keep the boys in the game. I trust that if I come out of a game with the lead that they’ll keep it, and if I don’t that they’ll score. I don’t have a magic formula for you. I just compete.”
As for Quantrill going 11-0 with in his last 17 starts, manager Terry Francona said, “I think when those things happen sometimes there’s always some good fortune in there. But he’s also been extremely consistent. He gives himself a chance. How many times have I come in here and said ‘if you look up in the sixth or seventh, if we score, Cal gives you a chance to win.’”
The win did not come easy for Quantrill.
The Royals led 1-0 after the top of the fifth. They scored on consecutive two-out singles by Nate Eaton and Nicky Lopez. Quantrill, scheduled to pitch Game 3 of the wild card series, if necessary, on Sunday, wasn’t going to come out for the sixth.
The Guardians, however, have lavished Quantrill with runs this season and weren’t about to change that pattern so late in the season.
They scored five runs off lefty Daniel Lynch (4-13, 5.13) in the fifth. Lynch, 0-6 in his last nine starts, hadn’t allowed a run in the first four innings. All that changed in the fifth.
Myles Straw started the inning with a bunt single to the right side of the mound. Steven Kwan went down on a fly ball to right, but Amed Rosario singled through the middle for his third hit of the night as Straw moved to second.
Jose Ramirez, after a double steal by Straw and Rosario, gave Cleveland the lead, 2-1, with a two-run double off the wall in left center field. Ramirez, who has 124 RBI, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a two-out single by Andres Gimenez.
Owen Miller put the finishing touches on the inning with a two-run homer into the left field bleachers for a 5-1 lead. It was Miller’s sixth since Aug. 1.
“Last night he hit a couple balls right on the nose and didn’t get rewarded for it,” said Francona. “It was nice to see him do that tonight.”
Quantrill improved to 3-0 against the Royals this season and 6-0 in his career.
Francona experimented over the last three innings as he continues to try and fit together a postseason roster. Zach Plesac, making the first relief appearance in his career, retired the side in order in the sixth. There’s not spot for Plesac in the rotation so they’re trying to see if he fits in the pen.
Rookie catcher Bo Naylor relieved Austin Hedges in the seventh and caught Sam Hentges, James Karinchak and Emmanuel Clase. Hedges retired the side in order, but Karinchak allowed a run to score on two wild pitches in the eighth.
Clase, who allowed an unearned run in the ninth thanks to a throwing error on Gimenez, earned his 42nd save. Jose Mesa holds Cleveland’s single-season record for saves with 46 in 1995. Clase’s 42 saves rank fifth in club history.
Next: RHP Aaron Civale (4-6, 5.04) vs. RHP Jonathan Heasley (4-9, 5.00) Tuesday at 4:10 p.m. Bally Sports Great Lakes, WTAM and WMMS will carry the game.
Guardians AL Central championship merchandise for sale: Here’s where you can get Cleveland Guardians gear commemorating their AL Central Division title, including T-shirts, hats, hoodies, and much more.
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