CLEVELAND -- For the first time since July 3, the White Sox are not sitting atop the American League Central.
Sean Newcomb allowed a three-run, go-ahead homer to Petey Halpin in the sixth inning as the Guardians moved into first place in the division by beating the White Sox 6-3 on Wednesday afternoon.
Cleveland (78-75) took a half-game lead over Chicago (77-75) by winning the final two contests in the three-game series at Progressive Field. The White Sox now hold the final AL Wild Card position by 1 1/2 games over the Rangers and Blue Jays, though Texas had a night game Wednesday.
“We knew that this series wasn’t going to define the rest of the year for us,” Chicago manager Will Venable said. “Giving up the division lead, everybody will feel how they feel about it. But I’m proud of the guys and I think we’re in a good spot moving forward.”
The White Sox own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Guardians as a result of winning their season series 7-6. They host the Tigers on Thursday, while Cleveland is off, giving Chicago an opportunity to retake a share of first place.
“We can’t worry about who is in front of us,” Newcomb said. “We’ll just control what we can.”
Newcomb relieved Hagen Smith with two on and two outs in the sixth, but was greeted by Petey Halpin’s Statcast-projected 393-foot homer to right. David Fry and Austin Hedges, who were both walked by Smith, came around to give the Guardians a 5-3 lead.
Cleveland added an RBI double from José Ramírez to extend its advantage to 6-3, completing a four-run inning that was the difference. Newcomb didn’t retire a batter and gave up two runs on two hits and a pair of walks.
“That was not the spot I wanted to put it,” Newcomb said of his 94.3 mph sinker to Halpin. “It was just middle. I haven’t been myself lately. Not as crisp.”
Tommy Pham belted a three-run homer off All-Star Parker Messick in the fifth, propelling Chicago in front at 3-2. Chase Meidroth and Randal Grichuk scored on the two-out, Statcast-projected 412-foot shot to the bleachers in left-center.
Pham had been out with a strained left calf since Sept. 3, but was activated from the injured list before the game.
White Sox starter Anthony Kay also rose to the occasion by not allowing an earned run in four innings, but was charged with two unearned runs because of an unusual error by second baseman Meidroth in the third.
Meidroth attempted to tag Halpin on a potential double play off the bat of Steven Kwan, but the ball slipped out of his glove and both runners reached base.
Two batters later, Jo Adell delivered a two-run liner over shortstop Luisangel Acuña to put the Guardians ahead 2-0.
“Good play by Halpin running hard to the tag,” Venable said. “I’m not sure what Chase could have done. Maybe keep the other hand on the ball?”
Messick (12-9) struck out eight over six innings for the win and Cade Smith earned his 37th save in 42 opportunities. Hagen Smith (3-2) gave up two runs in 1 2/3 innings to take the loss.
Venable referred to his decision to use Smith for multiple innings as “the debatable one,” but added, “He’s been so good for us.”
“With this Cleveland team, you can’t give them extra opportunities via errors and walks,” Venable continued. “And that just bit us there.”
Chicago third baseman Colson Montgomery exited in the fifth with a bruised left wrist after being hit by a Messick pitch the previous inning. X-rays taken at the ballpark were negative and he is considered day-to-day.
Munetaka Murakami, who is hitting .095 with 50 strikeouts in 95 at-bats over his past 27 games, replaced Montgomery. Venable said the All-Star rookie will return to the lineup against Detroit after being given a breather.
“Coming into this series, it was a playoff game for every person that walked into this building,” Messick said. “It’s pretty much going to be like that every day for these teams until the regular season is over.”