Indians 2, Marlins 0
Scott Kazmir pitched six superb innings while Yan Gomes recorded three hits and scored a run as visiting Cleveland won for the 10th time in 11 games.
Kazmir (7-4) allowed two hits, walked two and struck out seven to extend his unbeaten streak to 10 starts. Michael Brantley and Lonnie Chisenhall each knocked in a run while Mark Reynolds had a pair of hits for the Indians, who remained three games behind first-place Detroit in the American League Central.
Bryan Shaw and Joe Smith each pitched a scoreless inning before Chris Perez tossed a perfect ninth for his 17th save as the Indians held the Marlins to four hits. Miami starter Nathan Eovaldi (2-2) yielded only one run on seven hits and struck out two over seven frames.
Gomes reached on an infield hit in the second inning, moved to third on Reynolds' double and trotted home on Chisenhall’s single for a 1-0 lead. Kazmir allowed only a ground-rule double by Ed Lucas through the first five frames before striking out the side in the sixth around Christian Yelich's single.
Reynolds and Gomes opened the seventh with singles and advanced on a sacrifice, but Eovaldi retired the next two batters to end the threat. The Indians pushed the lead to 2-0 in the eighth, when Mike Aviles doubled and scored on Brantley’s two-out base hit up the middle off Chad Qualls.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The 2003 World Series champion Marlins were honored during a pregame ceremony, which delayed the start time by 11 minutes. … Cleveland C Carlos Santana, 1B Nick Swisher and SS Asdrubal Cabrera did not start the game. Swisher grounded out in a pinch-hitting appearance in the ninth. … The Indians start a four-game series at home with Detroit on Monday and Miami begins a nine-game road trip at Pittsburgh on Tuesday.