PHILADELPHIA -- Cleveland’s starters were stellar in the three-game series against the Phillies -- and they needed to be.
Parker Messick followed strong outings from Gavin Williams on Friday and Slade Cecconi on Saturday with 5 2/3 scoreless innings to help the Guardians defeat Philadelphia, 3-1, on Sunday at Citizens Bank Park.
Travis Bazzana and Steven Kwan provided the offensive spark for AL Central-leading and streaking Cleveland, which took two of three in the set to make it 11 victories in its past 13 games.
Messick (6-1) struck out six and walked two while allowing five hits, giving Cleveland’s starters a 1.45 combined ERA in the three games. Those efforts were crucial for the Guardians as they spent the weekend battling Philadelphia’s Cristopher Sánchez, Zack Wheeler and rookie Andrew Painter.
Cade Smith tossed a scoreless ninth for his 18th save in 20 tries.
Bazzana, batting leadoff for the second time in his career after being elevated to the top spot on Saturday, homered into the second deck in the eighth inning and had a pair of singles. Kwan had three singles, including an RBI knock that broke a scoreless tie.
After failing to score against a Phillies starter for 18 1/3 consecutive innings in the series, Cleveland finally got a run on Kwan’s one-out RBI single in the fifth against Painter (1-5).