Connect with us

Published

on

CLEVELAND — Tanner Bibee gave the Guardians something Friday that they hadn’t experienced in six years: a complete-game shutout.

Bibee struck out 10 and walked none while tossing a two-hitter in the Guardians’ 4-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox. It helped Cleveland keep pace in the American League wild-card race.

Bibee (10-11) was more impressed with not allowing a free pass than fanning double digits.

“No walks for sure,” said Bibee, who went the distance for the second time this season. “I hate walking people, and it’s a beautiful thing when they both happen at the same time.”

Bibee might be peaking at the ideal time for a Cleveland club chasing Seattle for the final AL wild card. He entered the season as Cleveland’s ace but endured stretches of inconsistency, leading to a 4.69 ERA entering his 29th start.

He was plenty effective Friday, baffling a White Sox lineup that entered the day having won nine of its previous 11 games. His changeup worked early, setting the stage for his other pitches late.

“Finally,” he quipped. “Just the work that I’m putting each week between starts. … Obviously, it’s been an up-and-down year, but obviously it worked out today.”

He notched Cleveland’s first complete-game shutout since Sept. 10, 2019, when Zach Plesac accomplished the feat against the Los Angeles Angels.

Bibee allowed back-to-back singles in the third inning before escaping with an inning-ending double play. He retired 18 of the last 20 batters he faced, none bigger than Nolan Jones‘ diving catch on Lenyn Sosa‘s liner to right field for the final out.

Cleveland (76-71) has won seven of eight, including Bibee’s past two starts.

Continue Reading

Sports

Brewers first in MLB to clinch playoff spot

Published

on

By

Brewers first in MLB to clinch playoff spot

MILWAUKEE — The Brewers have become the first major league team to clinch a playoff spot this season.

According to MLB, the New York Mets’ 3-2 loss to the Texas Rangers on Saturday sealed at least a National League wild card for the Brewers as they got ready to play Saturday night against the St. Louis Cardinals.

The NL Central-leading Brewers own the best record in the majors.

This marks the seventh time in the last eight seasons that the Brewers have qualified for the playoffs, though they haven’t won a postseason series since reaching Game 7 of the National League Championship Series in 2018.

They had made a total of two postseason appearances from 1983-2017.

Continue Reading

Sports

Georgia Tech stuns Clemson with walk-off FG

Published

on

By

Georgia Tech stuns Clemson with walk-off FG

ATLANTA — Aidan Birr made a 55-yard field goal as time expired and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets upset the No. 12 Clemson Tigers on Saturday.

With no timeouts left and the clock running with under 20 seconds to play, the Georgia Tech special teams squad sprinted onto the field and lined up.

And on fourth-and-3, Birr connected and the home crowd rushed the field.

Quarterback Haynes King returned from a lower-body injury that kept him out of Georgia Tech’s Sept. 6 win over Gardener-Webb.

King was 19-for-27 for 216 yards and added 25 carries for 103 yards and a touchdown on a 1-yard quarterback sneak in the fourth quarter for the Yellow Jackets (3-0, 1-0 ACC).

King’s score and the 2-point conversion gave the Yellow Jackets a 21-14 lead.

Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik had an uneven performance in which he turned the ball over twice — one fumble and one interception.

Klubnik was 15-for-26 for 207 yards, including a 73-yard touchdown pass to Bryant Wesco early in the second half to give the Tigers a 14-13 lead. Klubnik added 62 yards and one touchdown on the ground.

For the second straight week, Clemson (1-2, 0-1) had to overcome a slow start and halftime deficit.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Continue Reading

Sports

Simpson, Williams shine as Tide roll Wisconsin

Published

on

By

Simpson, Williams shine as Tide roll Wisconsin

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Ty Simpson threw for 382 yards and four touchdowns, including two to returning star Ryan Williams, and No. 19 Alabama overpowered Wisconsin for the second consecutive year, winning 38-14 on Saturday.

Simpson completed 24 of 29 passes, with two of his misses being drops by Williams and freshman Lotzier Brooks. Williams finished with five receptions for 165 yards after missing last week’s game because of a concussion.

Simpson, who was equally solid last week against Louisiana-Monroe, joined Mac Jones (2020) as the only quarterbacks in school history to complete at least 80% of their passes and throw three TDs in consecutive games.

The Byrant-Denny Stadium crowd erupted as Williams took a screen pass and went 75 yards on the first play of the second half. It gave Williams his first 100-yard game since facing Georgia last September.

Bray Hubbard‘s two interceptions led an Alabama (2-1) defense that held Wisconsin to 209 yards. The Crimson Tide notched four sacks.

Danny O’Neil, subbing for injured Wisconsin starter Billy Edwards Jr., completed 11 of 17 passes for 117 yards. His 41-yard TD pass to Jayden Ballard was one of the few highlights for the Badgers (2-1). Vinny Anthony II also returned a kickoff 95 yards for a score.

The injury-riddled Badgers couldn’t find a rhythm on either side of the ball and have dropped consecutive games to Alabama by a combined score of 80-24, while the Tide have outscored their last two opponents by a combined score of 111-14 following their season-opening loss to Florida State.

Alabama defensive end LT Overton left the game in the third quarter with an undisclosed injury and did not return. He walked to the locker room without assistance.

Wisconsin returns home to face Maryland next Saturday in the Big Ten opener for both teams.

Alabama gets the week off before opening conference play against No. 6 Georgia.

Continue Reading

Trending