Tyler Freeman hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the seventh inning, and the visiting Cleveland Guardians beat the Miami Marlins 6-3 on Sunday.
With the game tied 2-2, Cleveland’s Brayan Rocchio and Steven Kwan recorded back-to-back singles with one out in the seventh. Then Freeman sent a pitch from A.J. Puk (0-7) high and deep into the left-field seats to put the Guardians ahead for good.
Relievers Tim Herrin, Nick Sandlin (5-0), Sam Hentges and Hunter Gaddis didn’t allow a hit over 3 1/3 scoreless innings for American League Central-leading Cleveland, which won the final two after falling 3-2 in Friday’s opener.
Meanwhile, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Jake Burger each homered, while Trevor Rogers overcame giving up four walks, by yielding just a run and two hits, while striking out five, in five innings for the Marlins, who have lost eight of their last 11.
Cleveland opened the scoring with two outs in the second when Gabriel Arias sent a Rogers sinker into the right-field shrubbery for his second home run and a 1-0 lead for the visitors.
Guardians starter Carlos Carrasco, meanwhile, retired the first nine batters he faced, then allowed Chisholm’s long home run to right-center field to open the fourth inning. The Marlins took the lead in the fifth when Xavier Edwards doubled to right and came home when Nick Gordon followed with a single to right-center field and reached second on a Freeman outfield error.
Carrasco was pulled with two outs in the fifth and charged with both runs, while also giving up four hits and striking out three without a walk.
The Guardians, though, tied it 2-2 in the sixth. Jose Ramirez doubled inside the third base bag to open the frame, and scored on David Fry’s one-out single to right off Andrew Nardi.
Ramirez provided more insurance for Cleveland with an RBI single against Miami’s Burch Smith in the ninth.
Burger went deep off Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase in the ninth for Miami, which has lost six of seven at home.
–Field Level Media
