Rookie shuts down Tribe

DENVER — The Cleveland Indians didn't know who was going to pitch for them Wednesday until their game against the Kansas City Royals on Sunday was delayed by nearly two hours of rain.

Until then they had considered Corey Kluber, Josh Tomlin and Danny Salazar.

Kluber was ruled out because the Indians didn't want him swinging the bat after just coming off the disabled list after a back injury. Tomlin and Coors Field seemed like a bad match because of his vulnerability to the home-run ball. Salazar was eliminated because of a sore right shoulder.

So the job fell to Trevor Bauer, the man with the arm that won't say no. He threw 1 innings Sunday before the skies opened. When play resumed, Bauer did not return. Three days later, he was back on the mound. It didn't go well.

Bauer lasted 3 innings and threw 86 pitches as the Colorado Rockies completed a two-game sweep with a 8-1 victory over the Indians.

The Indians still had a chance after Bauer (5-5) allowed four runs on five hits and five walks. They were down 4-0, hardly a black hole in hitterfriendly Coors Field, but for the second straight game they could do nothing against a Rockies rookie pitcher.

Left-hander Kyle Freeland (7-3) threw 6

crisp innings, striking out five and allowing one run for the win. On Tuesday night, right-hander Antonio Senzatela (8-2) went 6 innings in an 11-3 win. "Freeland is a young kid who threw strikes and didn't walk anybody," said Indians manager Terry Francona. "For a young pitcher (he) understands the value of not having traffic (at Coors Field)."

The Indians, who finished their five-game trip 1-4, often looked like they needed a nap. When they did show some hustle, it was ill-advised. Francisco Lindor doubled to start the fourth with the Tribe down 2-0. He tried to advance on a fly ball to center field, but was cut down on a strong throw by Charlie Blackmon.

Lindor originally was called safe, but the Rockies challenged and the replay showed third baseman Nolan Arenado tagged him on the feet well before he reached the bag.

"I thought it was really good base running, I really do," Francona said. "It's hard for me to second guess that when he did what he did."

The Rockies took a 2-0 lead on Arenado's two-run double in the second.

Colorado made it 4-0 on Blackmon's basesloaded double past first in the fourth.