​Brayan Rocchio and Chase DeLauter connected for home runs, Joey Cantillo worked five innings with nine strikeouts, and the Cleveland Guardians defeated the host Miami Marlins 5-2 on Sunday afternoon, July 12. Guardians right fielder Kahlil Watson, Miami’s first-round pick from 2021, also contributed a solid performance for the Marlins, going 2-for-5 with an RBI, a stolen base, and a runner headed for a tag at second base that was cut down. Cleveland completed a three-game sweep on the final day of play before the All-Star break.
Rocchio had a productive day at the plate, going 2-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Cantillo (8-4) earned the victory, yielding six hits, two walks, and one run over his five innings of work. Miami, which had entered the series on a six-game winning streak, struggled to produce runs in this set, scoring just five total across the series. Tyler Phillips, who started what had been called a bullpen day for the Marlins, took the loss after giving up two hits, one walk, and two runs in one inning.
During the game, Cleveland wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. Travis Bazzana drew a four-pitch walk to begin the first inning, advanced to second on a stolen base, and scored on Rocchio’s ground-ball single to right. Javier Sanoja, a Gold Glove-caliber utility player for 2025, delivered an impressive throw home, but Bazzana slid in safely on a close play. Later in the first, Rocchio added to the early lead with a run-scoring single on Kyle Manzardo’s opposite-field single to left.
In the bottom of the first, Liam Hicks looked to have doubled off the right-field wall, but he stumbled rounding first base, and Watson made a sharp throw to second to force the out at the bag. The Marlins seemed poised to spark a rally in the second inning, loading the bases with no outs, yet Cantillo slowed the momentum by getting Esteury Ruiz to pop up and then striking out both Rece Hinds and Brian Navarreto on changeups to end the threat.
Heriberto Hernandez put Miami on the board in the third with a double that scored Xavier Edwards on the ensuing two-out single, trimming the Guardians’ lead. Rocchio answered back with a homer off a 98-mph fastball from Michael Petersen in the fifth inning, extending Cleveland’s advantage to 4-1. The Guardians padded their lead further when Watson delivered an RBI infield single in the seventh, making it 4-1.
The teams each homered again in the ninth—DeLauter for Cleveland and Griffin Conine for Miami—though the Marlins could not convert enough scoring opportunities to mount a comeback. The final score stood at 5-2 in favor of Cleveland.
In the broader context, this game offered a showcase for Rocchio’s multi-faceted bat, Cantillo’s steady five-inning performance, and the Guardians’ ability to capitalize on early scoring chances. It also highlighted Watson’s speed and versatility on the bases and in the outfield, along with the Marlins’ ongoing struggle to sustain offense despite opportunities. The win marked another step for Cleveland as they closed out the series on a strong note before the All-Star break, while Miami looked to regroup after facing a strong division rival prior to the break.