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SPORTS Wednesday 18 september 2024
Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase breaking bats, records, making

strong case to win AL Cy Young

By TOM WITHERS But it goes beyond the
AP Sports Writer numbers with Clase, who
CLEVELAND (AP) — Em- would likely be leading the
manuel Clase is breaking majors in broken bats if the
bats and records at an al- stat was kept.
most equal rate. He wants the ball every
He’s become baseball’s day, craves it. Last month,
grim reaper, the cream after Clase pitched on
of the closer crop. Cleve- four consecutive days, first-
land’s right-hander with year Guardians manager
a devilish cut fastball not Stephen Vogt made him
seen since Hall of Famer stay in the dugout so there
Mariano Rivera’s dominant would be no chance of
days with the New York him pitching.
Yankees is having a season The AL hasn’t had a reliever
to remember. win the award since Oak-
Maybe one that includes land’s Dennis Eckersley in
winning the Cy Young, a 1992. Eric Gagne was the
rarity for relievers. last NL reliever to win after
On Monday night, Clase saving 55 games in 2003.
earned his MLB-leading There’s been a reluctance
46th save his 33rd straight among writers to vote for
since May 20 to tie José a specialist, perhaps base-
Mesa’s single-season team Cleveland Guardians’ Emmanuel Clase pitches in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the ball’s equivalent to a de-
record as the Guardians Minnesota Twins, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Cleveland. fensive player winning the
inched closer to an unex- Associated Press Heisman Trophy in college
pected AL Central title by season. Guardians second said. “Honestly, it’s been percentage on saves (94%) football. But Clase has built
rallying for a 4-3 win over baseman Andrés Gimé- absolutely incredible this has put Clase firmly in the a strong case to end the
the Minnesota Twins. nez knows the drill. Once year, and in the last three conversation for AL Cy drought.
The game followed a fa- he hears Clase’s entrance years. It’s just unbelievable, Young consideration. Vogt certainly thinks so.
miliar script: another Cleve- song blaring through the saving 40 games each sea- His advanced stats also “The way I look at the Cy
land comeback (the club’s ballpark’s sound system son. It’s crazy. It’s special.” separate Clase from most Young is like the MVP,”
40th), followed by Clase. and sees his teammate Crazy. Special. Unfathom- pitchers, and the fact that Vogt said. “It’s the most
Progressive Field may be jogging across the outfield able. Unhittable. he’s done it for a Cleve- valuable pitcher, and what
the only place in the majors grass with his braided, col- Clase is posting statistics land team that has led its Emmanuel means to us
where if the bullpen door in ored hair bouncing out of that almost seem imagi- division since early April and to our team, 100% he
right field swings open in the back of his cap, there’s nary. He’s allowed just makes the 26-year-old al- should be in consideration.
the ninth inning, it’s game only one thing left to do. five earned runs in 69 1/3 ready the Guardians ca- But that’s my opinion on it.
over. “I feel like I’m going to go innings, a 0.65 ERA that reer saves leader an even I don’t get to vote, and I’m
It’s been that way was all home early,” Giménez along with his conversion stronger candidate. a little biased.”q

Boston Marathon lowers qualifying times for most prospective

runners for 2026 race

BOSTON (AP) — Runners day. “In recent years we’ve a spot in the 2026 race five growing trend of our sport the 2026 race began on
hoping to qualify for the turned away athletes in this minutes faster than for this and shows that athletes are Sept. 1 and will run through
2026 Boston Marathon are age range (18-59) at the year’s edition. continuously getting faster the conclusion of the regis-
going to have to pick up highest rate, and the ad- Women and nonbinary ap- and faster,” Fleming said. tration period of that race
the pace. justment reflects both the plicants need to complete The qualifying window for next September.q
The Boston Athletic Associ- depth of participation and the distance in 3:25.
ation has updated its quali- speed at which athletes The slowest competitors
fying times for the world’s are running.” that can earn qualifica-
oldest annual marathon, The BAA introduced quali- tion are in the 80 and over
asking most prospective fying times in 1970 and has age group. The men in that
competitors to run a 26.2- expanded and adjusted category must complete
mile race five minutes fast- the requirements through a marathon in 4:50, while
er than in recent years to the decades. Runners par- women and nonbinary
earn a starting number. ticipating in the event to competitors have 5:20 to
“Every time the BAA has raise money for charity do finish. Those numbers were
adjusted qualifying stan- not have to meet the quali- not changed in the most
dards most recently in fying standards. recent adjustment.
2019 we’ve seen athletes The latest change means The BAA said it had 36,406
continue to raise the bar men between the ages of qualifier entry applications
and elevate to new levels,” 18 and 34 will have to run a for next year’s race, more
Jack Fleming, president marathon during the quali- than ever before. A wave of runners start the Boston Marathon, Monday, April 15,
and CEO of the BAA, said in fication window in 2 hours, “The record number of 2024, in Hopkinton, Mass.
a statement posted Mon- 55 minutes or faster to earn applicants indicates the Associated Press