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Guardians score, recap vs Mariners | Seattle avoids sweep with close call over Cleveland
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- Guardians score, recap vs Mariners | Seattle avoids sweep with close call over Cleveland
CLEVELAND — The Guardians go for a key sweep of the Seattle Mariners as the Wild Card race rages onward.
Needing to make up ground, the Guardians pulled off back-to-back one-run wins over the Mariners. In doing so, they closed the gap and entered Aug. 31 3 games back of the final playoff spot in the American League, with the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals also right in the mix.
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Follow along here for live score updates, highlights and analysis from the Guardians-Mariners Aug. 31 game.
Guardians fall to the Mariners, who avoid the sweep in Cleveland
The Mariners retired the final 19 Guardians batters in a row, and Seattle has avoided the sweep with a 4-2 win in Cleveland.
Andres Munoz retired the side in order in the ninth. Jose Ramirez lined out to former teammate Josh Naylor to end it. The Guardians finished with only two hits.
And Cleveland will begin a seven-game road trip 4 games back of the Mariners in the Wild Card race.
Aug 31, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Seattle Mariners left fielder Randy Arozarena (56) celebrates his two-run home run in the fifth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
Mariners lead Guardians entering 9th inning
The Guardians will enter the ninth inning trailing 4-2 and still with only two hits today, which came back-to-back in the third inning.
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Also, the air show is beginning to cause a bit of a disturbance. Several jets are flying right over the ballpark, which has caused Kolby Allard to step off the mound a few times. The fans love it.
The top of the Guardians order is due up in the bottom of the ninth.
Mariners take lead in 7th on close call, review on play at first base
The Guardians are down 4-2, and they clearly can't believe it.
Matt Festa entered in relief of Tanner Bibee in the top of the seventh inning and with two outs, the Guardians opted to intentionally walk Cal Raleigh to load the bases. That led to Julio Rodriguez , who grounded a ball up the middle second baseman Daniel Schneemann .
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The ball wasn't hit hard, and Rodriguez was called safe on a bang-bang play at first base. And because of the time it took to field and throw it to first, the Mariners actually scored two runs on the play.
The Guardians challenged it, but a review wasn't enough to overturn the call. When that was announced, several Guardians players on the field and in the dugout clearly couldn't believe it, with several putting both hands on their head in disbelief.
Festa then picked off Raleigh at second base, but the Mariners will take a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning.
The Guardians still only have two hits today.
Aug 31, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio (4) throws to first base in the second inning against the Seattle Mariners at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
Randy Arozarena homers off Tanner Bibee to tie it
This series has been homer-heavy, and this score is now tied.
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In the top of the fifth, Randy Arozarena launched a two-run, score-tying home run off of Tanner Bibee to the bleacher seats in left field. It's tied 2-2.
And after Bibee's frustration boiled over in his last start, this outing might not have a similar feel after opening the game with 4 2/3 scoreless innings.
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee delivers a pitch against the Seattle Mariners on Aug. 31, 2025, in Cleveland.
Guardians, Mariners score: Daniel Schneemann gives Cleveland the lead with 2-run home run
Th Guardians were nearly held hitless through three innings by Mariners starter Bryce Miller . With two outs in the third, Steven Kwan drove a double to the opposite field, and a few pitches later, Daniel Schneemann drilled a two-run home run that has given Cleveland a 2-0 lead.
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Tanner Bibee has struck out two and allowed two hits through the first three innings.
Below is some pregame information.
Emmanuel Clase , Luis Ortiz gambling investigation update
Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz have had their paid leave absences extende d as MLB continues its gambling investigation.
Guardians lineup vs Mariners
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Steven Kwan, LF
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Daniel Schneemann, 2B
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Jose Ramirez, DH
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Kyle Manzardo , 1B
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Nolan Jones , CF
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C.J. Kayfus, RF
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Will Wilson , 3B
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Brayan Rocchio , SS
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Austin Hedges , C
American League Wild Card standings
Here are the AL Wild Card standings entering Aug. 31, with three spots up for grabs.
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New York Yankees 76-60 (+4)
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Boston Red Sox 75-62 (+2.5)
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Seattle Mariners 74-64 (--)
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Kansas City Royals 70-65 (2)
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Texas Rangers 70-67 (2.5)
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Guardians 68-66 (3)
Guardians upcoming schedule
After this three-game home series against the Mariners, the Guardians are on the road all next week to face the Boston Red Sox (Sept. 1-3) and Tampa Bay Rays (Sept. 4-7).
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How can I watch, stream or listen to the Guardians vs Mariners game?
The game on Aug. 31 can be viewed locally on AT&T U-verse (channel 1736), COX (channel 80), DIRECTV Satellite and Streaming (channel 662), FuboTV and Spectrum (channel 1306). It can also be streamed via MLB's direct-to-consumer streaming subscription ( CLEGuardians.TV ). And it'll be available on the radio via WTAM 1100, WMMS 100.7 and WARF 1350.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Guardians score vs Seattle Mariners live game highlights
