Clevinger combines with 3 relievers on a 4

CHICAGO (AP) — Mike Clevinger combined with three relievers on a four-hitter, and the Chicago White Sox topped the Cleveland Guardians 3-1 on Saturday night for their season-high fourth consecutive victory.

Clevinger permitted one run in 4 2/3 innings in his second major league start of the season. The right-hander, who signed a $3 million, one-year contract with Chicago on April 4, struck out five and walked none.

Then the bullpen took over.

Tim Hill (1-0), Jared Shuster and John Brebbia combined for 4 1/3 hitless innings as the last-place White Sox improved to 9-6 since their 3-22 start. Shuster got six outs before Brebbia handled the ninth for his first save since June 8, 2018, for St. Louis at Cincinnati.

“These guys never stopped working. They never stopped fighting,” manager Pedro Grifol said. “They’re really, really close in there. They play together. Now they’re expecting to win ... and that’s the key.”