Indians sweep Yanks, who stagger into Red Sox series
NEW YORK » Cleveland went ahead for good nine pitches into the opener when a fastball just below the knees deflected off the mitt of catcher Gary Sanchez for a run-scoring passed ball.
Sixteen pitches into the second game, the Indians burst in front to stay when Edwin Encarnacion singled off Yankees rookie Jordan Montgomery.
A doubleheader sweep Wednesday by scores of 2-1 and 9-4 dropped New York 5½ games behind AL Eastleading Boston heading into a four-game series against the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium starting Thursday night.
“It’s impossible not to look at the scoreboard. It’s right there,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “I’d have to really have my head in the sand not to see the scores of games.”
Trevor Bauer won his career-best seventh straight de- cision, Jose Ramirez tied his big league high with four hits and the Indians took advantage of an unearned run to grab a 2-0 first-inning lead in the opener.
Carlos Santana followed Encarnacion with an RBI double and Yandy Diaz hit a two-run single as the Indians sent 10 batters to the plate in a 43-pitch first inning against Montgomery in the second game. ORIOLES8,MARINERS7» Welington Castillo went 4 for 4 with a homer and three RBIs, Jonathan Schoop singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and Baltimore beat Seattle for its season-high seventh straight victory. NATIONALS 4, MARLINS 0 » Stephen Strasburg tossed a complete game six-hitter and also homered, Wilmer Difo added a home run and Washington beat Miami to complete a three-game sweep. REDSOX7,BLUEJAYS1» Mitch Moreland had a pinch-hit homer and drove in four runs, Hanley Ramirez added a solo blast and Boston beat Toronto to complete a threegame sweep. BREWERS 6, CARDINALS 5» Domingo Santana and Jonathan Villar homered in the sixth inning, and center fielder Keon Broxton made a leaping catch over the wall for the final out. METS2,REDS0» Rafael Montero took a one-hitter into the ninth inning, and New York held on for a victory that extended its dominance over Cincinnati. TIGERS 6, ROCKIES 2» Justin Verlander struck out nine over six commanding innings and aided his own cause by driving in his first career run.
Mariners get Leake
SEATTLE » The Mariners acquired right-hander Mike Leake from the St. Louis Cardinals for minor league infielder Rayder Ascanio as Seattle tries to bolster its beleaguered starting rotation.