Messick outduels Tolle in rookie showdown

Parker Messick and Payton Tolle, the AL's two best rookie starters, faced off at Fenway Park on Tuesday night. Cleveland's offense prevailed 3-2 to keep the Guardians' postseason hopes alive.

Messick works through early trouble

Not at his sharpest, Messick allowed at least one hit in each of the first four innings before settling down with a strikeout in the fifth. He mixed a fastball-changeup combo with a late slider to keep hitters off balance.

“"This team had a really good approach, and they did a good job fighting with me, getting into deep counts."”

Five innings, one run, another gem

Messick departed after five innings having allowed just one earned run and five hits. It was his 14th consecutive start allowing three or fewer earned runs and his 10th with one or fewer.

“"To go five innings, one run, I can't ask for anything more from him."”

Messick's ERA drops to 2.55

The lefty now has the third-lowest ERA in the AL among qualified starters at 2.55. He walked one, struck out five, and lowered his season mark while maintaining consistency game after game.

Cleveland holds off late Red Sox rally

David Fry's RBI single and a run-scoring double play gave Cleveland a 2-1 lead. Mickey Gasper tied it with a solo homer in the eighth, but Nathaniel Lowe's sacrifice fly in the ninth put the Guardians back ahead to stay.

Guardians inch closer to clinching

The victory brings Cleveland one step closer to clinching a postseason berth while maintaining their lead over the White Sox in the AL Central. The team stranded a season-high 15 runners but still found a way to win.