CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Guardians and Blue Jays played what could be their final game of the year Thursday, barring a postseason matchup. That’s probably a good thing.

Toronto won, 6-0, as the teams split six games. But there was a lot of heat rising from Progressive Field in those final nine innings, and a lot of it had nothing to do with the 85-degree temperature that the game was played in.

In the third inning, after the Blue Jays took a 3-0 lead and first baseman Kyle Manzardo committed three errors, Cleveland starter Tanner Bibee hit Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the right forearm. The face of the Toronto franchise was not happy and left the game in the fourth inning.

It was the second time in two games Guerrero had been hit by a pitch from a Cleveland pitcher. Bibee took a pragmatic view of the events.

“He’s one of best hitters in the big leagues,” said Bibee. “I threw him a sinker in just like (Jakob) Junis did Wednesday. It just ran in.

“When you make $500 million dollars, you’re not going to be able to lean out over the plate. It just is what it is. I wasn’t trying to hit him.”

In April, the Blue Jays signed Guerrero to a 14-year $500 million extension. It was a bit of news that left an impression on Bibee.

In the fourth inning, Toronto’s Kevin Gausman hit José Ramírez, Cleveland’s face of the franchise, with his first pitch of the inning. Gausman’s 95 mph fastball hit Ramírez in the right forearm, forcing him to leave the game in the fifth inning.

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt was certain Gausman had hit Ramírez on purpose.

“We knew they were going to hit José,” said Vogt. “We knew it was coming, it’s part of the game.”

What Vogt objected to was where Ramírez was hit.

“I’ve played this game a long time,” said Vogt. “I’ve been around this game a long time. If you’re going to hit someone on purpose, hit them in the hip.”

In the fifth inning, Vogt went on the field to relay that thought to Toronto manager John Schneider. Plate umpire Tom Hanahan made sure Vogt didn’t get too close to the enemy dugout.

Ramírez, for his part, didn’t think Gausman hit him on purpose.

“I don’t think they threw at me because we didn’t throw at Guerrero.”

Ramírez left the locker room with his right forearm wrapped.

“I’m OK,” he said.

In the Toronto locker room, Schneider said, “We know they didn’t throw at Vlad and we didn’t throw at Josie.”

While Vogt was on the field trying to explain the proper way to hit a batter, Bibee was having his hands examined by crew chief Bill Miller, who was working third base.

It was the second time in two innings Miller had given Bibee’s hands the once-over for sticky stuff. In the fifth inning, he made Bibee wash his hands before he let him take the mound.

“I’m a sweaty person,” said Bibee. “It was really hot out and the dirt and rosin just seemed to build up.

“My hand always gets a little dark from the dirt and rosin. Today it was a little darker than usual and he told me to wash up.”

Bibee said it’s the first time he’s been checked out to that extent.

“I was a little surprised,” he said. “It’s OK. They didn’t check me the first three innings. It probably wouldn’t have been that big a deal if they checked me in the first.

“I’m not cheating, I swear.”

Vogt called the third inning the “sloppiest inning we’ve had all year.” It’s the first time in 15 years the Guardians have had a player make three errors in one inning.

“I just had a bad day,” said Manzardo. “It can’t happen.”

Said Bibee, “Everyone has a rough day. I’ve given up seven runs in one game. Some days, Manzo is going to pick me up. And some days we’re all going to pick Manzo up. This is one of those days.

“This is his first full year. He’s going to come back strong.”

Finally

Shane Bieber will throw a bullpen session on Friday as he continues to recover from last year’s Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.