Tanner Bibee pitched a seven-inning shutout as the Cleveland Guardians defeated the AL wild-card-leading Tampa Bay Rays 9-2 on Sunday to prevent a three-game sweep.
In seven innings, Bibee (9-2) allowed two runs on seven hits and struck out five.
The Guardians had 15 hits, including home runs by Andrés Giménez and Gabriel Arias. Cleveland won for the fifth time in 16 games, with five starters finishing with two or more hits.
In an 82-pitch outing, Rays starter Zach Eflin (12-7) allowed a season-high six runs and nine hits while attempting to become the AL’s first 13-game winner.
After going an MLB-worst 5-15 from July 1-26, Tampa Bay is 9-6 in its last 15 games. The Rays have dropped 12 of their last 18 games at home.
José Ramirez, the Guardians’ All-Star third baseman, served the second and final game of his suspension for fighting with Tim Anderson of the Chicago White Sox.
Cleveland led 4-0 after Arias hit a two-run homer and Steven Kwan added an RBI single in the second. Oscar Gonzalez and Will Brennan hit consecutive run-scoring doubles in the third inning to extend Cleveland’s advantage to 6-0.
Gonzalez finished with three doubles and an RBI double in a two-run fourth.
Giménez led off the game with a solo homer in the first inning and added an RBI single in the fifth.