CHICAGO — Shane Bieber pitched two-run ball into the eighth inning, and the Cleveland Guardians beat the Chicago White Sox 4-2 on Thursday night for a three-game series sweep.
Cleveland opened a seven-game lead over Chicago in the AL Central with its 15th win in 18 games. The Guardians (83-67) can clinch the franchise's first division title since 2018 as early as Sunday.
Bieber (12-8) earned his fourth straight win. The 2020 AL Cy Young Award winner allowed seven hits, struck out five and walked none in 7 2/3 innings.
Trevor Stephan finished the eighth and Emmanuel Clase handled the ninth for his AL-best 37th save in 41 chances.
Gavin Sheets homered for Chicago in the eighth. Johnny Cueto (7-9) allowed four runs, three earned, and eight hits in six innings in his third straight loss.
The White Sox (76-74) have dropped three straight and four of six overall.
The Guardians will take their seven-game AL central lead to Texas tomorrow to open a weekend series against the Rangers.
Cody Morris (0-2, 2.30 ERA) is set to make the start for the Guardians. Jon Gray (7-7, 3.80 ERA) will take the mound for the Rangers.
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