Indians top Angels 2-1; winning 7th straight
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians are finally starting to look like the defending AL champions.
Cleveland ran its winning streak to a seven games — its longest of the season — and moved to a season-high 10 games over .500 with Thursday’s 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.
Trevor Bauer pitched a season-high eight innings, Francisco Lindor singled to break a tie in the seventh and the Indians completed a 7-0 homestand after losing six of seven.
Manager Terry Francona knows the streak has come at a critical point for his team, which stumbled out of the All-star break with a 1-5 road trip.
“We needed it, but needing it and doing it are two different things,” he said.
“We’re trying to play the game the right way, that’s what we did,” Lindor said. “It helps a lot. You win a couple of games in a row and it definitely builds up your confidence.”
Bauer (9-8) is 4-0 in five career starts against the Angels. He struck out six and allowed seven hits. Cody Allen pitched the ninth for his 18th save. JC Ramirez (9-9) took the loss.
Bauer worked out of a jam in the seventh that began with runners on second and third and no out. The right-hander realized he had one of two options.
“I either give up runs
and we probably lose or I find a way to get out of it,” he said. “Thankfully, it worked out.”
Andrelton Simmons led off the inning with a single and took third on Luis Valbeuna’s double. The runners held when C.J. Cron grounded out. Pinch-hitter Yunel Escobar struck out and Juan Graterol grounded
out to end the inning.
The Indians have gone with six starters their last two turns through the rotation, but will return to five soon.
“I don’t really think it’s a problem,” Francona said. “There’s a lot of things we could do. We’re not going to just banish somebody to the bullpen.”