Rea leads the way as Brewers win 2-0 to complete sweep of Guardians in matchup of division leaders

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Colin Rea and two relievers combined on a two-hit shutout as the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Cleveland Guardians 2-0 on Sunday for their fifth consecutive victory.

The NL Central-leading Brewers (72-52) improved to a season-best 20 games above .500 after going 7-3 on a 10-game homestand that included a four-game split with the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers and a three-game sweep of the AL Central-leading Guardians.

Milwaukee's five-game winning streak matches its longest of the season.

Rhea (11-4) held the Guardians hitless for the first 5 2/3 innings. The 34-year-old right-hander struck out five and allowed two hits and no walks in his seven-inning stint.

Rea departed after hitting Jhonkensy Noel with a pitch for the second time to start the eighth inning. Bryan Hudson came out of the bullpen and retired the next three batters in order.

With usual closer Devin Williams unavailable after pitching three of the last four days, 30-year-old left-hander Jared Koenig retired the side in order in the ninth to earn his first career save.

Cleveland’s Ben Lively (10-8) gave up a run in each of the first two innings, but shut the Brewers down for the rest of his six-inning stint. He struck out five and allowed five hits and two walks to go with the two runs.

In the first inning, Milwaukee’s Brice Turang hit a leadoff triple to right and scored on Willy Adames’ two-out single to center.

Sal Frelick hit a one-out single in the second, advanced to third on a hit-and-run single from Joey Ortiz and scored when Eric Haase grounded to short.

That was more than enough offense for Rea, who didn’t allow a hit until Steven Kwan lined a single to left with two outs in the sixth.

Will Brennan followed Kwan’s base hit with a single to center that put the potential tying run on base, but Rea ended the threat by retiring José Ramírez on a pop fly that first baseman Rhys Hoskins caught in foul territory.

HONORING YOUNT

Before the game, the Brewers honored Hall of Famer Robin Yount to recognize the 50th anniversary of the two-time MVP’s major league debut. Yount spent his entire career with the Brewers and is regarded as the best player in franchise history.

Yount received a standing ovation before throwing out the first pitch.

During a pregame media session with former Brewers owner and MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, Yount said that he’s “the luckiest guy in the world, to have been drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers.”

“I love Milwaukee,” Yount said. “I love Wisconsin. It’s just worked out great for me.”

UP NEXT

Guardians: Off Monday before starting a three-game road series with the New York Yankees on Tuesday. The scheduled starting pitchers Tuesday are LHP Matthew Boyd (0-0, 1.69 ERA) for the Guardians and RHP Luis Gil (12-6, 3.25) for the Yankees.

Brewers: Off Monday before starting a three-game series at St. Louis on Tuesday. RHP Frankie Montas (5-8, 4.86) starts for the Brewers on Tuesday, while RHP Erick Fedde (8-6, 3.40) pitches for the Cardinals.

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Milwaukee Brewers' Willy Adames hits a run-scoring single during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Ben Lively throws to the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Former Milwaukee Brewers player and Hall of Fame member Robin Yount, front right waves to fans next to Brewers manager Pat Murphy, left, before a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Brewers' Joey Ortiz, front right, catches a foul ball hit by Cleveland Guardians' Josh Naylor during the third inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Former Milwaukee Brewers player and Hall of Fame member Robin Yount throws out a ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Colin Rea throws to the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Norfolk Southern said Wednesday it has fired CEO Alan Shaw for having an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate.

His ouster comes after two difficult years in the top job and just days after the company’s board announced it was investigating him for alleged ethical lapses.

The Atlanta-based railroad said Shaw had an inappropriate consensual relationship with Norfolk Southern's chief legal officer, who was also terminated. Norfolk Southern promoted Chief Financial Officer Mark George to be the railroad's next CEO.

Shaw was leading Norfolk Southern in February 2023 when one of its trains derailed, spilled toxic chemicals and caught fire in East Palestine, Ohio, the worst railroad disaster in the last decade. Then, activist investor Ancora Holdings tried to take control of the railroad earlier this year and fire Shaw.

He weathered congressional hearings and difficult community meetings after the East Palestine derailment, while promising to make Norfolk Southern the “gold standard for safety” in the industry. He also managed to persuade investors not to back the majority of Ancora’s board nominees. Three of its nominees did win seats on the railroad’s board, but that wasn’t enough to give it control.

The derailment near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border prompted the nation to re-examine railroad safety and led lawmakers and regulators to call for reforms. But those proposals have largely stalled, and the industry has made only minimal changes since the derailment, such as installing more trackside detectors to spot overheating bearings like the one that caused the East Palestine crash.

The disappointing financial results Norfolk Southern delivered after the derailment, combined with questions about Shaw’s strategy of keeping more workers on hand during a downturn, made the railroad ripe for pressure from an investor like Ancora. Norfolk Southern's profits have consistently lagged behind the other major railroads that more aggressively adopted the lean operating model that has become the industry standard.

The railroad said Shaw’s firing was unrelated to Norfolk Southern’s financial performance, and the board reaffirmed its financial guidance. The railroad has said it expects to improve productivity by about $550 million and boost its profit margin over the next two years.

Shaw received $13.4 million compensation last year in his first full year as CEO. The railroad said earlier this year that Shaw would be entitled to nearly $9.6 million in retirement compensation if he left the company. It wasn’t immediately clear how being fired for cause will affect the $2.3 million severance pay Norfolk Southern had previously promised him. More details on his final compensation are expected to be disclosed Thursday.

The railroad's Chairman Claude Mongeau said, “The Board has full confidence in Mark and his ability to continue delivering on our commitments to shareholders and other stakeholders” despite having only worked on the railroad since 2019. Previously, George was CFO for air conditioning maker Carrier Corporation and Otis Elevator Company.

Mongeau said George will work with John Orr — the chief operating officer hired during its fight with Ancora — to continue improving the railroad's profits by cutting costs and getting more efficient.

“I look forward to my continued partnership with John and the entire (Norfolk Southern) team as we further our progress on optimizing operations and serving our customers, while creating a safe and satisfying workplace and delivering enhanced value for our employees, customers, shareholders, and communities,” George said in a statement.

Norfolk Southern is one of the six largest railroads in North America with tracks crisscrossing the Eastern United States.

FILE - Norfolk Southern Railroad CEO Alan Shaw speaks during an interview Wednesday, June 21, 2023, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)