Kyle Manzardo had a two-run homer and Steven Kwan and Bo Naylor each had RBI singles, lifting the Cleveland Guardians to a 4-3 victory over the visiting Seattle Mariners on Saturday night.
Right-hander Gavin Williams (9-5) allowed one run on four hits over seven innings, striking out eight with a lone walk for the win. Cade Smith worked the final 1 1/3 innings to earn his ninth save in 14 opportunities.
Seattle, which sits in the final American League wild-card position, lost its seventh consecutive road/neutral site game and had the Guardians pull within three of them. The Mariners have lost 11 of their last 16 contests.
Mariners starter Logan Gilbert (4-6) gave up three runs on three hits in six innings. The right-hander struck out six with two walks, exiting with Cleveland holding a 3-0 advantage.
Manzardo went deep in the sixth inning, while Kwan tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh after Jorge Polanco’s solo homer pulled Seattle within 3-1. Polanco has homered in both games of the series.
The Mariners’ Julio Rodriguez smashed a two-run homer in the eighth against Hunter Gaddis, but Smith immediately entered and retired the next four hitters to end the game.
Cleveland has won four straight and is 4-1 on a homestand against the Tampa Bay Rays and Seattle. Its last three victories have been by one run.
Naylor put Cleveland up 1-0 in the fourth inning with a two-out single to center, scoring Jose Ramirez. Naylor had one hit in his previous 21 at-bats since Aug. 18.
Manzardo has five homers this month and 23 on the season, three behind team leader Ramirez, who scored a pair of runs.
Leadoff batter Randy Arozarena accounted for both of the Mariners’ hits in the first five innings. Seattle didn’t have more than one hit in any frame, finishing with five.
–Field Level Media
