Lowe's sacrifice fly breaks tie and lifts Guardians past Red Sox, 3-2, helping them atop AL Central

In a 3-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox, the Cleveland Guardians extended their lead in the AL Central to one game, thanks to a sacrifice fly by Nathaniel Lowe in the ninth inning. Angel Martínez contributed three hits to help the Guardians, who entered the day with a one-game lead over the White Sox at the top of the Central. Chicago holds the tiebreaker with a winning record in the season series.

Cleveland left the game with 15 stranded baserunners. For Boston, this defeat marked their eighth loss in 12 games, effectively ending Chad Tracy's tenure as manager after he was named the 49th manager in team history. Adley Rutschman added three hits for Boston. Mickey Gasper, a pinch hitter, hit Hunter Gaddis' first pitch to tie the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Gaddis (5-3) earned the win, while Cade Smith recorded his 40th save with the final three outs. Miller (4-2) hit a batter and struck out two in an inning. Cleveland's Parker Messick, a strong candidate for AL Rookie of the Year, lasted five innings, giving up just one run and lowering his ERA to 2.55. He is on track to become the fourth rookie starting pitcher in MLB history with an ERA under 2.60 and averaging 9 or more strikeouts per nine innings.

Boston lefty Payton Tolle struggled with control over 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on eight hits. In his previous outing on September 13, Tolle achieved Boston’s second immaculate inning, opening a game. The Guardians will face Red Sox right-hander Sonny Gray (17-5, 2.82) in the middle game of the three-game series at home.