Gallagher wreaks havoc on South Side
Guardians catcher gets key hit as Cleveland avoids sweep
Cam Gallagher hit an RBI single during Cleveland’s two-run seventh inning, and the Guardians beat Dylan Cease and the White Sox 3-1 on Thursday.
Gabriel Arias homered as Cleveland salvaged the finale of the three-game series. Nick Sandlin (2-1) got four outs for the win, and Emmanuel Clase worked the ninth for his 15th save.
The Guardians went ahead to stay in the seventh. With one out and runners on second and third, Brayan Rocchio hit a grounder that shortstop Tim Anderson flubbed for an error. Rocchio was credited with his first major league RBI when Will Brennan scampered home to make it 2-1.
Gallagher then drove in Arias with a single to left against Gregory Santos. Cleveland’s catchers were 0 for 44 with 26 strikeouts in May before Gallagher’s hit.
Luis Robert Jr. had two hits for Chicago, including a double. Seby Zavala hit an RBI single in the fourth.
Cease (2-3) was charged with three runs and five hits in 6⅓ innings. The right-hander is 0-3 in his last seven starts.
Cleveland rookie Logan Allen allowed seven hits in 5⅔ innings in his fifth career start. The left-hander struck out five and walked one.
Cease retired 13 of his first 14 hitters. Josh Bell hit a leadoff single in the second for Cleveland, but he was erased on a double play.
Arias drove the first pitch he faced in the fifth into the stands in right-center, tying it at 1 with his second homer.
The Guardians were without All-Star third baseman José Ramírez, who is on the bereavement list. Rocchio was recalled on Tuesday to fill his roster spot.
Liam Hendriks, who is recovering from stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma, was in the team’s clubhouse Thursday. Manager Pedro Grifol said the 34-year-old right-hander will throw a bullpen session or live batting practice on Friday. Then Hendriks and team management will discuss the next step in his comeback.