The Cleveland Indians and Miami Marlins will settle their differences on Sunday when they meet up in the rubber match of a three-game weekend series.
Cleveland really struggled in the series opener on Friday as the Marlins ran up a 10-0 victory behind a 4-for-5, four-RBI effort from Logan Morrison.
Saturday was a much closer affair with the Indians holding on for a 4-3 win despite a late rally by the Marlins.
Chris Perez came in to close the contest for Cleveland in the ninth inning with the Indians leading 4-2. Perez gave up a leadoff double to Morrison and then an RBI single to Greg Dobbs that brought the Marlins to within one. However, Perez then got the next three outs to record his 16th save of the season.
Cody Allen was credited with the win for his 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. Michael Bourn went 2-for-4 with three runs and three stolen bases for Cleveland, which has a half-game lead over Baltimore and Texas for the AL's final wild card spot.
The Marlins wasted a solid start from Jacob Turner, who went six innings and allowed two runs in the loss. Dan Jennings, who came in to start the seventh inning, allowed two runs on a pair of hits and recorded just a single out to take the loss.
Morrison went 2-for-4 for the Marlins, who had just six hits as a team. Miami had a three-game winning streak snapped in the loss.
On Sunday it will be left-hander Scott Kazmir that will be on the hill to start the contest for Cleveland.
After putting together a string of seven straight games of allowing three or fewer runs, Kazmir struggled a bit more his last time out. On Tuesday against the White Sox, Kazmir lasted five innings and allowed four runs and a season- high nine hits. Fortunately for Kazmir, the Indians were able to earn a 7-4 win.
Kazmir has still been solid this season for the Indians, a year removed from spending an entire season away from Major League Baseball as he pitched for the Sugar Land Skeeters of the independent Atlantic League and a Puerto Rican professional team. Kazmir owns a 6-4 record and a 4.11 ERA in 19 starts.
Sunday will mark the fourth start of Kazmir's career against the Marlins. In the first three games, Kazmir is 1-1 with a 4.00 ERA.
Nathan Eovaldi takes the ball for Miami on Sunday.
Eovaldi began his career in 2011 as a 21-year-old with Los Angeles. He then moved to the Marlins during the 2012 season as part of the deal that sent Hanley Ramirez to the Dodgers.
This season Eovaldi didn't make his first start until June 18 but in eight starts since he has gone 2-1 with an ERA of 3.47, which is currently a career low for the right-hander.
In his last start Eovaldi put forth a strong effort but still got a no- decision as he allowed two runs over six innings during a 4-2 loss to the Mets. Eovaldi did surrender a season-high five walks in the contest. He has gone at least six innings in all but one start this season.
Eovaldi has never faced the Indians.
These teams squared off for a three-game series last season, as the Marlins took two of three in Cleveland.
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