BOSTON -- A clash of the two best rookie starters in the American League -- Parker Messick and Payton Tolle -- went down on Tuesday night at Fenway Park, but in the end it was the Cleveland offense that eked out a crucial 3-2 win.
The victory brings the club one step closer to clinching a postseason berth while also maintaining their lead over the White Sox in the American League Central.
Not at his sharpest, Messick ran his pitch count up early as he allowed at least one hit in each of the first four innings before finally working a 1-2-3 in the fifth, striking out Nick Sogard to end the frame and his night on the bump.
Relying on a fastball-changeup combo to set batters up, the rookie mixed in a late slider to keep hitters off balance.
“I think we’ve seen, game-to-game, my arsenal is going to be a little different depending on the lineup and what they are good at and bad at,” Messick explained. “This team had a really good approach, and they did a good job fighting with me, getting into deep counts.”
Despite the early departure, the Guardians hurler left his team with a 2-1 advantage after allowing just one earned run and five hits in what will likely be his last regular-season start as Cleveland begins piecing together its playoff rotation.
“I could have another [start] in five days, could have another one in six, seven days, or not for another ten or however many it is,” Messick said. ”I’m just going to get myself ready like I always do every week and be ready to go and take care of business.”
It was the 14th consecutive start in which Messick allowed three earned runs or fewer, and the 10th of one run or fewer. The lefty allowed five hits, walked one, struck out five and lowered his ERA to 2.55 this season, the third-lowest mark in the AL among qualified starters.
“Parker continues to be consistent,” said Guardians manager Stephen Vogt. “He didn’t have his best stuff or command tonight but found a way. They made him work. They made him throw a lot of pitches. To go five innings, one run, I can’t ask for anything more from him.”
Cleveland’s scoring came in the second inning on David Fry's RBI single and a run-scoring double play against Tolle, who allowed only two runs over 5 2/3 innings.
The Guardians had two additional scoring chances snuffed out at home, in the third and seventh innings, on ground balls against a drawn-in Boston infield. Cleveland stranded a season-high 15 runners in the game.
The Red Sox fought back late against the Cleveland bullpen. Pinch-hitter Mickey Gasper tied the game on the first pitch he saw from Hunter Gaddis to lead off the eighth with his 10th homer of the season.
After Gaddis finished the rest of the frame without incident, Nathaniel Lowe's sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth scored Chase DeLauter to put Cleveland back ahead to stay.
“[Gasper] jumped on the slider, hit it good, it got out,” Gaddis said. ”I've still got to finish my job as best as possible. … To answer right away, that’s really big.”
Cade Smith pitched around a one-out walk in the ninth to become just the seventh Cleveland pitcher to record 40 saves in a season, joining Emmanuel Clase (2022-24), Joe Borowski ('07), Bob Wickman ('05), Jose Mesa (1995), Doug Jones ('90) and Mike Jackson ('98).
Smith is the third Canadian to reach the 40-save mark, alongside Eric Gagne (2002-04) and John Axford ('11).