​MIAMI (AP) — Tanner Bibee worked 6 2/3 solid innings, and Steven Kwan and Patrick Bailey delivered two-run doubles as the Cleveland Guardians defeated the Miami Marlins 4-1 on Saturday. The Guardians, who had already clinched the series by taking the opener 3-2 on Friday, moved closer to a split of the set with this win. Gabriel Arias collected three hits for Cleveland, helping the club extend their recent momentum.
Bibee (3-9) allowed a single run on four hits while issuing four walks and recording three strikeouts. Colin Holderman completed a 1-2-3 ninth inning to notch his first save. For Miami, Eury Pérez (5-7) took the loss after yielding two runs and eight hits over six innings. The right-hander walked two and struck out six, coming off a four-hit, seven-inning performance his last time out against Oakland on July 5.
The Guardians went ahead in the fourth when Kwan lined a two-run double to left-center, scoring Arias and Petey Halpin. Earlier, Arias and Halpin had singled in successive at-bats, and Kwan’s drive down the left-field line went off the wall for a double, widening the lead to 2-0. Liam Hicks added an RBI single for Cleveland in the seventh to pad the cushion.
Bailey answered with a two-run double in the eighth. After Kyle Manzardo reached on a hit-by-pitch and Kahlil Watson doubled, Bailey fell behind 0-2 against reliever William Kempner, fought back for a full count, then lined a ball that ricocheted off the left-field wall for a two-run hit. The hit came with two outs in the inning, helping the Guardians extend their advantage.
Miami had an early chance to take the lead in the third when Xavier Edwards delivered a two-out single to left to put runners on first and second. As lead runner Otto López raced for home, Kwan displayed a strong throw to second, catching Kyle Stowers sliding off the base and recording the third out before López could score, preserving Cleveland’s 2-0 edge.
Cantillo, a left-hander, is slated to start Sunday’s series finale for the Guardians, carrying a 7-4 record and a 3.66 ERA. The Marlins have not yet announced a starter for the finale. The cross-series battle continues as Miami tries to avert a sweep and salvage their series hopes.
For more MLB updates and game details, visit AP MLB coverage.