Indians jolt Rockies with burst in ninth
Lamb sparks Arizona; Sale strikes out 13 Rays
CLEVELAND — For eight innings, nothing. The Indians did everything in the ninth.
Yan Gomes hit a three-run homer with two outs off All-Star closer Greg Holland as Cleveland, down to its last strike several times, rallied for four runs in its last at-bat for Corey Kluber and stunned the Colorado Rockies 4-1 on Tuesday night.
After Austin Jackson tied it with a two-out bloop RBI single, Gomes connected on the first pitch from Holland (2-3), driving it into the seats in center field to touch off a wild celebration in Progressive Field.
Gomes flung his helmet and skipped around the bases as the Indians players danced out of their dugout at the improbable walk-off win.
Kluber (10-3) gave up three hits, struck out 11, threw his second straight complete game and continued his dominance since returning from the disabled list on June 1.
But if not for Jackson’s heroics against Holland, the majors’ saves leader, and Gomes’ eighth homer, Kluber would have taken a tough loss. Until the Indians’ late rally, Charlie Blackmon’s homer on Kluber’s second pitch looked like it might stand up as the game’s only run.
“First couple hitters of the game, home run, single and then nothing,” Indians manager Terry Francona said of Kluber’s latest gem. “It’s fun to watch. It’d be nice to score some runs so he could really enjoy it. He spent two and a half hours being grumpy, then you win.” DIAMONDBACKS 6, DODGERS 3: In Phoenix, Jake Lamb hit his second career grand slam, his first off a lefthander, in the seventh inning and Arizona handed the Dodgers only their eighth loss in their last 52 games.
Justin Turner homered twice for the Dodgers, who led 3-2 entering the bottom of the seventh.
PHILLIES 5, BRAVES 2: In Atlanta, Odubel Herrera hit a two-run homer, Zach Eflin pitched seven strong innings following his recall from the minors, and Philadelphia beat the Braves. Of the Phillies’ 41 wins, 10 have come against the Braves.
MARLINS 7, NATIONALS 3: In Washington, Giancarlo Stanton hit his careerhigh and major league-leading 38th home run of the season and drove in three runs as Miami beat the Nationals.
PADRES 7, REDS 3: In Cincinnati, Jose Pirela had four hits, and Yangervis Solarte had a homer among his three hits, powering San Diego.
TWINS 11, BREWERS 4: In Minneapolis, Brian Dozier hit his first career grand slam and Max Kepler and Eddie
Rosario each homered twice, powering Minnesota. METS 5, RANGERS 4: In New York, rookie Chris Flexen got his first big league win and hit, and the Mets took an early four-run lead against emergency starter A.J. Griffin and stopped a fourgame losing streak. PIRATES 6, TIGERS 3: In Pittsburgh, Andrew McCutchen hit his 23rd home run of the season and the Pirates downed Detroit.
RED SOX 2, RAYS 0: In St. Peterrsburg, Fla., Chris Sale allowed two hits in eight innings and struck out 13, and Boston beat Tampa Bay for its seventh straight victory.
Sale (14-4) reached double digits in strikeouts for the 15th time this season, the first time that’s been done since Randy Johnson in 2002. BLUE JAYS 4, YANKEES 2: In Toronto, Blue Jay Josh Donaldson hit two tworun homers and J.A. Happ won his sixth straight decision against the Yankees.
WHITE SOX 8, ASTROS 5: In Chicago, rookie Kevan Smith had a home run and drove in four runs for the White Sox in a win over Dallas Keuchel. CARDINALS 10, ROYALS 3: In Kansas City, Mo., Yadier Molina, Jedd Gyorko and Randal Grichuk went deep, and the Cardinals scored six runs in the fifth inning when the crown-shaped video board at Kauffman Stadium suddenly went dark.