Steven Kwan chopped a go-ahead, RBI infield single with two outs in the ninth as the Cleveland Guardians won their second straight over the host Tampa Bay Rays, 3-2, on Saturday night.
Against Pete Fairbanks (4-5) in a 2-2 game, Cleveland (71-70) got a leadoff single by Daniel Schneemann and a walk by pinch hitter Brayan Rocchio to open the frame.
After Bo Naylor’s sacrifice bunt and a C.J. Kayfus’ strikeout, Kwan grounded a two-bouncer between shortstop and third that was fielded but that he beat out.
Cade Smith worked a perfect ninth for his 10th save in relief of Hunter Gaddis (2-2). Smith retired Brandon Lowe on a flyout, Junior Caminero looking on strikes and Josh Lowe swinging to end it.
Kwan was 2-for-4 with a walk and the game-winning RBI. Schneemann went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and a run.
Starting pitcher Tanner Bibee hurled 6 2/3 innings and yielded two runs on five hits. The right-hander fanned three and walked one.
Josh Lowe hit a solo homer for Tampa Bay (71-71). Tristan Gray was 2-for-2 with a double and a run.
Starter Shane Baz tossed five innings and only ran into trouble in the fourth. The righty allowed two runs on five hits while striking out eight, walking one and hitting a batter.
After routing the Rays 7-1 on Friday, Cleveland was back at it in the fourth when it loaded the bases with no outs against Baz. Schneemann then lashed a two-run double to score Jose Ramirez and Kyle Manzardo for a 2-0 lead.
Bibee was cruising along through four innings, but Josh Lowe belted a 3-1 pitch 379 feet to right for his 10th homer.
In the sixth, the Rays evened it after Gray led off with a double, advanced on Chandler Simpson’s sacrifice bunt and scored on a grounder by Yandy Diaz that was booted by shortstop Gabriel Arias.
In an odd play, the Rays’ speedy Jake Mangum ended the seventh with the bases loaded by being caught stealing at home for the third out.
–Field Level Media
