Lively helps the Guardians beat the Angels 5-4 for their 9th consecutive win

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Ben Lively pitched seven innings of two-run ball, and the Cleveland Guardians beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-4 on Sunday for their ninth consecutive win.

It’s the longest win streak for Cleveland since it won an AL-record 22 in a row from Aug. 24 to Sept. 14, 2017. It matched the franchise’s best 53-game start at 36-17, also accomplished in 1920, 1954 and 1995. The team reached the World Series in all three of those seasons, winning in 1920.

“It’s fun. It’s what these guys do. I haven’t done anything,” first-year Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said. “It’s all about the guys in there. This team, they believe in each other. We play all 13 guys. They all chip in. Coming off the bench, we’ve been getting big hits. The pitching has really stepped up. It’s been a fun week and a half, and we hope to keep it going.”

Lively (4-2) allowed four hits, struck out five and walked two. Emmanuel Clase got three outs for his 17th save in 20 chances.