BOSTON — The Cleveland Guardians clinched a postseason berth Thursday night with a 1-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
Angel Martínez provided the only run of the game with a solo home run in the second inning, while Joey Cantillo followed an opening inning from Daniel Espino by throwing five scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Cantillo allowed one hit and struck out four.
Cade Smith closed out the game with a scoreless ninth inning, striking out the side for his major league leading 41st save. The win secured Cleveland at least an American League wild card spot and marked the Guardians’ third consecutive postseason berth.
The victory completed a 2-1 series win for Cleveland at Fenway Park.
The Guardians opened the series Tuesday with a 3-2 victory. Nathaniel Lowe delivered the go-ahead sacrifice fly in the ninth inning after Boston had tied the game in the eighth. Angel Martínez had three hits, while Cleveland’s pitching staff held the Red Sox to eight hits.
Boston answered Wednesday with a 1-0 victory, snapping Cleveland’s six-game winning streak.
Cleveland remains atop the American League Central by one game over the Chicago White Sox. Chicago holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Guardians, making the final days of the regular season important in determining the division winner and postseason seeding.
The Guardians now head to Kansas City for a three-game series beginning Friday. Gavin Williams is listed as Cleveland’s probable starter in the opener.