Mariners two-hit Guardians, avoid series sweep

Julio Rodriguez connected for a go-ahead two-run RBI single in the seventh to help the Seattle Mariners rally for a 4-2 win and avoid a sweep against the host Cleveland Guardians on Sunday.Start

Mariners two-hit Guardians, avoid series sweep

Julio Rodriguez connected for a go-ahead two-run RBI single in the seventh to help the Seattle Mariners rally for a 4-2 win and avoid a sweep against the host Cleveland Guardians on Sunday.

Starting pitcher Bryce Miller (4-5) allowed two runs on two hits and struck out three in six innings for the Mariners, who had lost three of their past four games. Andres Munoz got Cleveland out in order in the ninth for save No. 32.

Tanner Bibee (9-11) was tagged for four runs on six hits with four strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings for the Guardians, who had their four-game winning streak snapped.

Bibee got into some trouble early in the seventh. After he gave up a lead-off single to Dominic Canzone and J.P. Crawford reached on a fielder’s choice, he then issued a one-out walk to Cole Young to give Seattle runners at first and second.

That marked the end of Bibee’s outing, replaced by Matt Festa. Crawford and Young each advanced when Randy Arozarena grounded out and Cal Raleigh was intentionally walked to load the bases.

Rodriguez then put a single on the ground to shortstop that drove in Crawford and Young to put the Mariners ahead 4-2. Cleveland challenged the call of safe at first, but the ruling stood after video review.

The Guardians had just one baserunner, on a walk, and no hits through the first two innings before getting on the board in the third. With two out and nobody on, Steven Kwan knocked a double to left field. Daniel Schneemann followed and belted a first-pitch splitter over the wall in right-center to give the hosts a 2-0 lead.

The Mariners tied it 2-2 in the fifth. Crawford led off the inning with a single and then, with one out, Arozarena crushed his 26th home run of the season 421 feet into the seats in left-center.

Cleveland struggled to get anything going after opening the scoring, going out in order from the fourth inning on and finishing with just two hits.