Jhonkensy Noel delivered an RBI single for one of his two hits, Carlos Santana homered and the Cleveland Guardians cut down Chicago’s Mike Tauchman, who pulled up with an injury before reaching home plate, for the final out of their 3-2 victory over the visiting White Sox.

Noel’s two hits and Santana’s homer were the only three hits for the Guardians, who have totaled four runs and six hits in winning the first two games of the three-game set. Noel entered the game 1-for-17, but his run-scoring bouncer into center field highlighted a two-run first inning for Cleveland.

Santana’s third-inning long ball proved the difference.

Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase loaded the bases in the ninth with a 3-1 lead. With two outs, Miguel Vargas singled, scoring one run, but Tauchman appeared to re-injure his hamstring and couldn’t reach home. He was tagged by Guardians catcher Austin Hedges on the throw from left fielder Steven Kwan to end the game.

Guardians starter Logan Allen allowed four hits, two walks and an unearned run while striking out four in 4 2/3 innings. Paul Sewald (1-1), Hunter Gaddis, Jakob Junis and Tim Herrin yielded a combined one hit before Clase gave up three hits and a walk but picked up his first save.

Tauchman collected three hits, Vargas had two hits and Lenyn Sosa added an RBI single for the White Sox, who have lost seven straight. Chicago had eight hits but stranded 11 runners.

In the first, Allen walked Andrew Vaughn, who went to second on third baseman Jose Ramirez’s error and scored when Sosa hit a two-out single into center.

Chicago starter Sean Burke (1-2) gave up that lead in the bottom of the frame, issuing four-pitch walks to Kwan and Ramirez. Both players scored, Kwan on Noel’s single and Ramirez on a wild pitch.

Santana made it 3-1 when he clubbed a Burke pitch well over the right-center-field wall two innings later.

Burke allowed three runs and three hits, plus four walks, while fanning four in three innings. Chicago relievers Mike Vasil, Penn Murfee and Fraser Ellard then combined for five scoreless innings.

White Sox catcher Korey Lee also exited in the sixth inning with an apparent foot injury.

–Field Level Media