Joey Cantillo, a Cleveland Guardians pitcher, earned his first Major League Baseball save on Sunday, sealing a 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.
The Kailua High School alumnus pitched a scoreless ninth inning, allowing no hits and one walk with no strikeouts. Cantillo entered the game after All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase blew a save chance in the bottom of the ninth.
The 25-year-old left-hander has been effective out of the bullpen early this season, with a 1.59 ERA and 1.24 WHIP, 14 strikeouts, and five walks in 11.1 innings pitched.
In Pittsburgh’s loss, fellow Hawai’i native and Mid-Pacific graduate Isiah Kiner-Falefa went 1-for-4 at the plate. The veteran infielder is now batting.268 for the year.
