Gavin Williams pitched 5 2/3 innings and struck out 10 batters, while Chase DeLauter drove in three runs to help the Cleveland Guardians defeat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-0 on Sunday, avoiding a weekend series sweep.
Williams joined elite company by matching Chris Sale and Clayton Kershaw as the only pitchers in Major League Baseball history to strike out at least 10 batters while issuing one walk or fewer in at least five consecutive games. Williams (11-6) retired the first 15 batters he faced before Tim Tawa broke up the bid for perfection with a single to right field to open the sixth inning.
Offensive Support and Early Spark
Patrick Bailey broke out of an 0-for-13 slump earlier in the week with a home run in the second inning against Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly (8-9). Kelly surrendered five runs on eight hits while striking out five batters over five innings of work.
The game featured a tense moment in the sixth inning when a rain tarp was called onto the field with two outs. According to on-field reports, Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt and third-base coach Rouglas Odor exchanged words with Diamondbacks players and coaches near the dugout, prompting both benches to clear before umpires and coaching staff restored order after a brief delay. Play subsequently resumed following a rain delay lasting one hour and 34 minutes.
Pitching Consistency and Historical Context
Williams’ dominant stretch marks the longest consecutive streak of double-digit strikeout games for a Cleveland pitcher since Shane Bieber recorded six straight outings with 10 or more strikeouts between the 2020 and 2021 seasons, according to team historical records.
Despite threatening in the later frames, Arizona failed to capitalize with runners on base. The Diamondbacks loaded the bases in both the sixth and ninth innings but were unable to cross home plate, sealing the 5-0 shutout victory for the Guardians.
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