Guardians Top Marlins, 4‑1, Behind Bibee

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (Interstat) — Steven Kwan’s two-run double in the fourth inning and Patrick Bailey’s two-run double in the eighth powered the Cleveland Guardians to a 4-1 victory over the Miami Marlins on Saturday evening at loanDepot Park.

The Guardians improved to 50-46 with their second straight win in the series, while the Marlins dropped to 52-44. Cleveland’s Tanner Bibee earned his third win against nine losses, allowing one run on five hits over seven innings. Eury Pérez took the loss for Miami, falling to 5-7 after giving up two runs on eight hits in six innings. Colin Holderman notched his first save of the season by working a scoreless ninth.

Cleveland’s offense produced 11 hits, with four of them going for extra bases. The Guardians took an early 2-0 lead in the fourth on Kwan’s double to left field that scored Gabriel Arias and Petey Halpin. Arias had led off the inning with a single, and Halpin followed with a single of his own before Patrick Bailey struck out. Kwan then delivered the key hit, driving a ground-rule double that rolled to the left-field wall.

Miami cut the deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh. Joe Mack doubled to left with one out, advanced to third on a groundout by Javier Sanoja, and scored on a soft line-drive single by Liam Hicks. The Marlins could not capitalize further, as Otto Lopez popped out to end the threat.

Cleveland answered immediately in the top of the eighth. Kyle Manzardo was hit by a pitch to lead off, and Kahlil Watson followed with a double off the left-field wall that put runners at second and third. After Gabriel Arias and Petey Halpin struck out, Bailey drilled a double to left that cleared the bases and extended the Guardians’ lead to 4-1. Steven Kwan grounded out to end the inning.

Miami threatened again in the bottom of the eighth. Heriberto Hernández doubled to left with two outs, but Griffin Conine flied out to left to end the inning. In the ninth, Holderman retired the side in order on a groundout, a groundout and a flyout to left to seal the win.

The game featured solid pitching from both starters. Pérez struck out six and walked two while scattering eight hits. Bibee struck out five and walked three, allowing only one run. Cleveland’s bullpen held Miami scoreless over the final two innings, with Holderman closing the door.

Defensively, the Guardians turned two double plays, including a critical one in the fifth inning. In the first inning, Kahlil Watson grounded into a double play to erase a bases-loaded situation. The Marlins also turned a double play in the sixth to end a Cleveland scoring threat.

The Marlins had their chances early. In the third, Miami loaded the bases with two outs after a walk and a hit-by-pitch, but Xavier Edwards singled to left, and Kyle Stowers was thrown out at third trying to advance. In the fourth, the Marlins put a runner on but could not score after a strikeout and a flyout.

Cleveland’s offense was led by Steven Kwan, who went 1-for-5 with two RBIs and a double. Patrick Bailey contributed the go-ahead double in the eighth, finishing 1-for-4 with two RBIs. Travis Bazzana, Brayan Rocchio, Chase DeLauter, Kyle Manzardo, Gabriel Arias, Petey Halpin and Kahlil Watson all recorded hits. Watson doubled and scored a run.

For Miami, Heriberto Hernández, Griffin Conine, Xavier Edwards, Joe Mack, Liam Hicks and Kyle Stowers each had one hit. Hicks drove in the team’s only run. The Marlins left seven runners on base and went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

The game took 2 hours, 50 minutes and was played before an announced crowd of 16,070.

Cleveland’s win extended their recent momentum. The Guardians had lost four of their previous six games before Friday’s 3-2 win over the Marlins, including a pair of one-run losses to the Chicago White Sox and a series defeat in Minnesota. The Guardians are now 4-3 in July.

Miami, meanwhile, saw its three-game winning streak end. The Marlins had won their previous three games, including a sweep of the Seattle Mariners and a victory over the Cleveland Guardians in the series opener. Miami fell to 6-3 in July.

The series continues Sunday with the third and final game at loanDepot Park. The Guardians then return home for a four-game set against the Pittsburgh Pirates beginning Friday, while the Marlins travel to Milwaukee for a three-game series against the Brewers starting Friday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Miami Marlins 7, Cleveland Guardians 4. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Miami with a 53.70 percent probability to win. Miami had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus-1.5. The total score of 5 went over the over/under line of 7.5.