Petey Halpin gave Cleveland its September jolt Wednesday night, turning a tight game at Progressive Field with a three-run homer that carried the Guardians past the White Sox, 6-3, and back into sole possession of first place in the American League Central.
Key takeaways
- Cleveland improved to 78-75 and moved one-half game ahead of Chicago, which fell to 77-75.
- Halpin’s three-run shot off left-hander Sean Newcomb put the Guardians ahead for good.
- The drive left Halpin’s bat at 103.7 mph and was projected at 393 feet.
- Parker Messick struck out eight across six innings while allowing three runs on seven hits.
- The Guardians have nine regular-season games left as they chase a third straight division crown.
A reserve outfielder delivers the swing of the night
Halpin, 24, was in center field because Chase DeLauter and Angel Martínez were each unavailable for a second straight day with injuries. He made the opportunity count in the deciding game of the three-game set.
After David Fry and Austin Hedges drew two-out walks, Halpin worked Newcomb into a 3-1 count. The Chicago left-hander brought a sinker inside, and Halpin did not miss it. He watched the ball carry toward the right-field seats, flipped his bat away and began his trip around the bases as the Cleveland dugout erupted.
The homer was especially notable because Halpin bats left-handed and had collected only three previous career hits against left-handed pitching. Earlier in the game, he singled off another southpaw, Anthony Kay, then scored when Jo Adell lined a two-run single.
Division race turns back toward Cleveland
Messick had been in line for a frustrating loss despite another strong outing. The rookie standout surrendered all three Chicago runs on Tommy Pham’s three-run home run, but otherwise kept the White Sox from doing more damage. His six-inning line included eight strikeouts.
The win changed the feel of the Central race. Cleveland had not held first place alone since July 4, following a 4-3 victory over Chicago the previous night. A series defeat would have put the Guardians in a difficult spot, particularly because the White Sox secured the head-to-head tiebreaker Monday.
That tiebreaker means Cleveland must finish with a better overall record than Chicago to take the division. With nine games remaining, Halpin’s swing kept that path clear—and gave the Guardians a reminder that September heroes do not always arrive with the biggest lineup card.
