Marlins Fall To Indians, 2-0
MIAMI (AP) - Scott Kazmir and three relievers combined on a four-hitter Sunday, and the Cleveland Indians won for the 10th time in their past 11 games, beating the Miami Marlins 2-0.
The shutout was the 15th for the Indians, most in the American League. They took two of three games in the series despite scoring a total of only six runs.
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The Indians, who are chasing AL Central leader Detroit, begin a four-game series at home Monday against the Tigers.
Lonnie Chisenhall and Michael Brantley drove in the Indians' runs, and that was enough for Kazmir (7-4). Making his 200th career appearance, the left-hander won his fourth decision in a row by limiting the Marlins to two hits in six shutout innings.
Bryan Shaw gave up two singles in the seventh but also struck out the side. Chris Perez earned his 17th save in 19 chances by pitching a perfect ninth with the help of a diving catch by center fielder Brantley.
Manager Jack McKeon and 13 players from the Marlins' 2003 World Series championship team were on hand to celebrate their 10-year anniversary, but their success wasn't contagious.
Miami, which ranks last in the majors in runs and batting, was shut out for the 13th time. With runners in scoring position, the Marlins went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts.
Slumping slugger Giancarlo Stanton went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts and finished the series 1 for 11, dropping, his average to .245.
Nathan Eovaldi (2-2) allowed only one run in seven innings but departed after throwing 105 pitches. The Marlins haven't scored when Eovaldi's on the mound over his past four starts.
Marlins pitchers have gone 12 consecutive games without allowing a home run, the longest such streak in the majors since the 1998 Braves had streaks of 14 and 12 games. The streak nearly ended when Mark Reynolds doubled off the left-field fence in the second inning.
With runners at second and third, Chisenhall stumbled and fell halfway down the first-base line as he ran out a grounder that went foul. He sheepishly rose and returned to the plate, then hit the next pitch for an RBI single and a 1-0 lead.
Brantley ended an 0-for-14 slump when he hit a two-out RBI single in the eighth. He's hitting .346 this year with runners in scoring position.
Yan Gomes had three hits and scored a run.
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