Parker Messick won his third straight decision to begin his career and CJ Kayfus and Jhonkensy Noel each homered as the Cleveland Guardians beat the visiting Chicago White Sox 3-1 on Saturday night.
The victory allowed Cleveland (77-71) to pull within three games of the third and final American League wild-card spot, currently shared by the West Division co-leading Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners.
Messick (3-0) struck out four over six innings, giving up one run on seven hits with a walk. The left-hander was recalled from Triple-A Columbus to make his debut Aug. 20 at the Arizona Diamondbacks and is 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA in two home starts.
Kayfus belted a two-run homer in his second straight game, taking Davis Martin (6-10) deep in the second. The rookie hit a go-ahead, two-run shot Thursday in the eighth inning to give the Guardians a 3-2 win.
Noel added a pinch-hit home run in the eighth against Fraser Ellard, helping Cleveland to its ninth win in 11 games. Noel, nicknamed “Big Christmas,” and Kayfus both have four homers this season.
Martin pitched five innings for the White Sox (57-92), giving up two runs on five hits with three strikeouts and a walk. The right-hander lost for the first time since Aug. 5, winning three times with three no-decisions in the span.
Lenyn Sosa in the top of the first, scoring Chase Meidroth. Chicago had three hits in the opening frame, one more than they totaled Friday in a shutout loss to Cleveland and pitcher Tanner Bibee.
Brooks Baldwin of the White Sox, who has started at least five games at six different positions, did not play because of left hip soreness. Manager Will Venable said Baldwin is considered day to day.
