Cleveland Guardians pitcher Tanner Bibee delivers to the Toronto Blue Jays during first-inning baseball game action in Toronto, Sunday May 4, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

TORONTO — Tanner Bibee pitched five innings before leaving because of leg cramps, Gabriel Arias had three hits and two RBIs, and the Cleveland Guardians beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 on Sunday.

Six-time All-Star Jose Ramirez was back in the lineup for Cleveland, two days after leaving in the third inning because of a right ankle sprain. Ramirez went 0 for 4 with a walk.

Bibee (3-2) improved to 3-0 in three career starts against Toronto. He allowed three runs (two earned) and five hits.

Bibee came to the mound to warm up for the bottom of the sixth but appeared to be in discomfort, lifting his legs several times and calling the trainer out of the dugout.

Tim Herrin replaced Bibee, and Cade Smith worked the seventh. Hunter Gaddis allowed runners to reach second and third with one out in the eighth, but retired Myles Straw and Nathan Lukes to preserve a one-run lead.

Carlos Santana extended Cleveland’s edge to two with a bases-loaded walk in the ninth.

Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. answered with a sacrifice fly in the bottom half but Emmanuel Clase finished for his seventh save in nine chances, stranding the tying run at third base.

Toronto right-hander Bowden Francis (2-5) allowed four runs and six hits in 4 1/3 innings. Francis has won once in six starts.

BIBEE’S CRAMPS

Bibee left Sunday’s start at Toronto after five innings because of cramping in both legs, but said afterward that he doesn’t expect to miss any time.

Bibee came to the mound to warm up for the bottom of the sixth inning, but appeared to be in discomfort, lifting his legs several times and calling the trainer out of the dugout.

Left-hander Tim Herrin replaced Bibee, who earned the win in Cleveland’s 5-4 victory. Bibee allowed three runs, two earned, and five hits.

“It was definitely a battle outing,” Bibee said. “There was a lot of adversity today. For the most part, not having my best stuff, I feel like I battled pretty well. I got through five, felt like I could have got through six.”

Bibee struck out three and walked two. He left with a 4-3 lead.

“I thought Tanner, without having fastball command, pitched really well,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “Probably not as many strikes as he would have liked but I really liked the way he turned it around. I thought the fifth inning was his best and then, unfortunately, he had to come out.”

Toronto batters had three hits with runners in scoring position against Bibee, one more than he’d allowed in his first six starts combined.

Bibee said after the game that he was feeling better following treatment. Vogt said he expects Bibee to make his next scheduled start.

“He’ll be good to go,” Vogt said.

Bibee also left a July 2024 start against Detroit after five innings because of leg cramps.

“Our medical staff is on it, Tanner is on it,” Vogt said of the recurring problem. “He was able to throw almost all of his pitches before it started. We’re going to figure it out.”

KEY MOMENT

Daniel Schneemann hit an RBI single in the fourth and Arias followed with a two-run single.

KEY STAT

Toronto batters had three hits with runners in scoring position against Bibee, one more than he’d allowed in his first six starts combined.

UP NEXT

Guardians: RHP Luis Ortiz (2-3, 4.78 ERA) is scheduled to start Monday at Washington against Nationals RHP Jake Irvin (2-1, 4.01).

Blue Jays: Toronto had not named a starter for Tuesday’s game at the Angels. LHP Tyler Anderson (2-0, 2.67 ERA) will start for Los Angeles.