Can a closer win the Cy Young Award?

Cleveland Guardians fans are happily asking this question after last night’s 2-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Progressive Field.

Emmanuel Clase saved his fourth game in four days. Of course, that means Cleveland has won four in a row after a seven-game losing streak.

The last closer to win the AL Cy Young Award was Dennis Eckersley for the 1992 Oakland Athletics. Eric Gagne won it in the National League for the 2003 Los Angeles Dodgers.

Cleveland has the best record in baseball again at 71-49.

MORE GOOD NEWS

Matthew Boyd made a successful debut for the Guardians after signing with the team in late June.

Boyd pitched 5 1/3 innings, giving up three runs, one hit, and no walks while striking out six. If he can keep doing that, the Guardians will have a better chance to succeed in the playoffs.

Pedro Avila (4-1) finished the sixth before turning the game over to the Cade Smith-Hunter Gaddis-Clase triumvirate. Clase now has 37 saves and a 0.64 ERA.

Jose Ramirez made a heads-up play at third base to finish the game. Instead of trying to throw out the speedy Swanson, he tagged out Nico Hoerner in a rundown.

IT’S CHRISTMAS TIME AGAIN

Jhonkensy Noel broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning with a 430-bomb to the home run porch in left field. Noel, who hit two homers on Monday, has nine home runs in 83 at-bats.

The Cubs scored their run in the second inning on a sacrifice fly by Dansby Swanson.

Cleveland evened the score in the bottom of the second. Brayan Rocchio laid down a squeeze bunt to score Andres Gimenez.

The Guardians will go for the sweep tonight at 6:40 p.m. Alex Cobb will try to rebound from a rough first start against Jameson Taillon.