The sixth-seeded Cilic, 19, beat the eighth-seeded Fish in just under two hours.

Fish had upset top-seeded Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 6-0, 1-6, 6-3 in the semifinals. It was Fish's second straight runner-up finish in the event, following his loss last year to fellow American James Blake.

Cilic, who was making his first appearance in an ATP event, collected $94,000 for the win.

Fish dropped to 2-9 in 11 career finals, including a loss against Serbian star Novak Djokovic at Indian Wells earlier this season. Fish's last title was in Houston in 2006.