MIAMI — Ben Lively won his fifth straight start, José Ramirez and Steven Kwan homered, and the Cleveland Guardians beat the Miami Marlins 8-0 on Saturday night.
Lively (6-2) allowed three hits, walked none and struck out one, lowering his ERA to 2.59. Sam Hentges pitched the sixth and Pedro Avila finished the four-hitter for his first big league save and Cleveland's seventh shutout this season.
''Throw strikes, throw competitive pitches and keep them in and out and use my fastball a lot more than I ever have,'' Lively said about his string of successful outings.
Josh Naylor had two hits and drove in two runs for the AL Central-leading Guardians (41-22).
Miami, an NL worst 22-42, has lost five of six. The Marlins were held to four hits or fewer for the ninth time and advanced only two runners to scoring position.
Roddery Muñoz (1-2), recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville, gave up four runs, five hits and five walks in four-plus innings.
Ramirez hit his 18th home run in the first inning and leads the major leagues with 61 RBIs. Naylor had an RBI single in the third, and Cleveland broke open the game with a six-run fifth.
The 28-minute half inning enabled Lively to pitch the fifth with a larger lead but with a long period before he took the mound again. Manager Stephen Vogt decided to pull his starter after 65 pitches.
