Bauer, Kipnis lead Indians to victory

CLEVELAND — Trevor Bauer didn’t pitch like someone who was originally scheduled to watch Friday night’s game from the dugout.

Bauer, starting in place of an ill Danny Salazar, allowed one run in eight innings and the Cleveland Indians defeated the Los Angeles Angels 3-1.

Bauer (10-10) replaced Salazar, who was scratched because of a virus. The right-hander learned on Thursday that he would start the series opener instead of pitching Saturday.

The change didn’t affect Bauer, who allowed five hits and struck out seven in winning for the second time in nine starts.

“You never know about stuff like that,” Bauer said. “I try not to worry about it. Tell me when I’m supposed to pitch and I go out there and do my best.”

Jason Kipnis, the American League’s leading hitter (.324), drove in the goahead run with a seventhinning single to cap a three-run rally.

Kipnis, who had struck out twice and hit into a double play in his first three at-bats, delivered off Trevor Gott (2-2).

Kaleb Cowart’s RBI single in the fifth drove in the Angels’ only run. Los Angeles is 1 1-2 games behind Texas for the second wild-card spot in the AL.

Cody Allen worked a perfect ninth for his 27th save.

Salazar became ill Tuesday and missed a couple of days of his routine between starts. Bauer was pitching on his regular four days’ rest between starts.

“I was going to come in on (Thursday) and throw anyway,” Bauer said.

“I came in to the field and played catch with my dad and got ready for today.”

“One run in eight innings, we’ll take that every time,” Indians manager Terry Francona said.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia was impressed with Bauer’s performance.

“Bauer is just a strong young man,” he said. “His stuff is real, his stuff is legit. You’ve got to be patient and make him pitch in the zone because he tends to be around it quite a bit.”

Francona used three straight pinch-hitters to start the go-ahead rally. Lonnie Chisenhall drew a leadoff walk and was forced at second on Jose Ramirez’s failed sacrifice attempt.

Abraham Almonte, batting for Mike Aviles, tied the game with a double to the wall in left-center on Gott’s first pitch. Kipnis followed with a single to center, giving Cleveland the lead.

Kipnis struck out in the first and third and hit into a double play in the fifth against rookie lefthander Andrew Heaney.

That mattered little after his seventh-inning hit gave Cleveland the lead.