Carrasco has ‘immaculate inning’ as Indians roll Tigers
CLEVELAND » Carlos Carrasco pitched one immaculate inning and six more impressive ones.
Carrasco handled Detroit’s lineup for the second time in a week — striking out a seasonhigh 11 and pulling off a rare nine-pitch, three-strikeout inning — and Lonnie Chisenhall hit a two-run homer, leading the Cleveland Indians to an 11-2 win over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night.
Carrasco (10-3) allowed two runs in seven innings to win his fifth straight decision. He limited the Tigers to one run in seven innings on July 1.
The right-hander also recorded an “immaculate inning” by striking out the side in the fifth on nine pitches. Carrasco is just the second pitcher in Cleveland history to do it, joining Justin Masterson (2014). He’s also only the 84th in major league history, according to Major League Baseball’s website.
Carrasco didn’t realize he had done something special until he got back to the dugout.
“It was really impressive,” he said. “It felt good.”
Carrasco didn’t make the AllStar team, but Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor believes he should have.
“I know he’s got the stuff to be a No. 1 starter and he deserves to be in the All-Star Game,” said Lindor, had three RBIs. “It’s just whenever he goes out there and does what he does best, it’s pretty special. It’s pretty cool. Whenever you see big league hitters miss the ball by 5 feet, that means he’s doing something right.” ASTROS 12, BLUE JAYS 2 » George Springer homered twice and tied a career high with five RBIs as Houston rocked Aaron Sanchez in his return from the disabled list, propelling the Astros over Toronto.
Springer hit his 26th and 27th homers of the season, including a two-run shot off Sanchez (02) in the second inning. The AllStar outfielder had four hits, and the Astros improved their major league-leading record to 59-28.
Houston’s Carlos Correa extended the longest active hitting streak in the majors to a career-high 15 with his 18th homer in the first inning. Evan Gattis added his seventh homer in the seventh. CUBS 6, PIRATES 1 » Kris Bryant hit two homers and drove in four runs, Anthony Rizzo went deep and Chicago beat Pittsburgh.
Rizzo chased Trevor Williams (3-4) with a two-run drive in the fourth that made it 3-0. RED SOX 8, RAYS 3 » Dustin Pedroia, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Hanley Ramirez each homered, Drew Pomeranz won his third consecutive start and Boston beat Tampa Bay.
Pedroia hit a two-run shot during a four-run third, and Bradley had a fourth-inning solo drive off Jake Odorizzi (5-4) as Boston took a 5-0 lead. NATIONALS 5, BRAVES 4 » Daniel Murphy’s one-out RBI single in the 10th inning capped Washington’s comeback victory over Atlanta.
Adrian Sanchez led off the 10th against Ian Krol (1-2) with his first major league hit and two batters later moved to third on Ryan Zimmerman’s single. Murphy lofted an opposite-field single over left fielder Matt Kemp’s head to win it. METS 6, CARDINALS 5 » Jose Reyes and Jay Bruce hit solo home runs to help Jacob deGrom win his fifth straight decision, and New York beat St. Louis.
Bruce’s homer in the fifth broke a 4-4 tie. It was his 11th home run in 61 career games at Busch Stadium.
DeGrom (9-3) gave up four runs, all on solo homers, in seven innings. It was the first time in his career that deGrom gave up four home runs in a game, but it was good enough to tie his career-best winning streak set in 2014.
Addison Reed earned his save in 17 chances. 15th RANGERS 10, ANGELS 0 » Cole Hamels threw 7.2 innings and Adrian Beltre’s three-run homer highlighted a five-run second inning as Texas beat Los Angeles.
Hamels (4-0) allowed three singles, two to Albert Pujols, and one walk. He struck out six, matching his season high, in his third start since returning from the disabled list on June 26.
Ricky Nolasco (4-10) was rocked for eight earned runs in 1 2/3 innings and gave up backto-back homers to Beltre and Rougned Odor. He entered the game with 15 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings that included his sixth career shutout.