BOSTON -- Seeking to set up a postseason clinching scenario on Wednesday night, the Guardians first needed to win at Fenway Park. But with little offense, the visitors couldn’t extend their evening as they lost, 1-0, ending a six-game winning streak and pushing off any celebration for another day.
Starter Foster Griffin put his team in a decent position despite allowing a lot of early-inning traffic, including loading the bases with two outs in the third. The Cleveland hurler got his lone 1-2-3 inning in the fourth, keeping the game scoreless.
Traffic finally got flowing for Boston in the sixth, when Andruw Monasterio hit a line drive to left field, and despite a strong throw by Steven Kwan, Jarren Duran was able to slide in under the tag of Patrick Bailey.
Griffin went six innings, allowed 10 hits, but did not walk a batter and struck out seven, departing with his team trailing by only a run. It was the sixth straight start in which the left-hander did not allow a home run.
Unfortunately, the team’s bats were as cold as the Boston evening. Just one night after pounding out 12 hits, Cleveland could only muster five, all singles, two off the bat of Kwan.
Guardians hitters struck out nine times, and no baserunner advanced past second base.