Tribe blasts three homers in win
Indians 7, Angels 2
CLEVELAND — Francisco Lindor and Jason Kipnis homered during Cleveland’s five-run fifth inning, and the Indians beat the Los Angeles Angels 7-2 on Saturday night.
Carlos Santana added a solo shot in the eighth, helping Cleveland to its third win in four games.
The Indians didn’t have a hit through four innings, but quickly broke open a scoreless tie to keep the pressure on first-place Minnesota in the American League Central.
Kipnis hit a two-run homer off Trevor Cahill (3-7), who replaced injured starter Felix Pena in the second. Lindor’s three-run drive was off Justin Anderson.
Cleveland’s rally came moments after Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield was shown on the scoreboard, sitting in a Progressive Field suite. Mayfield drank from a beer can after biting into it and showed off his Lindor jersey, leading to a loud cheer from the crowd.
Santana hit his teamleading 24th homer off Cam Bedrosian.
Cleveland righthander Adam Plutko (4-2) allowed one run in 5 innings. He was removed with runners on second and third, and Justin Upton hit a sacrifice fly off Nick Goody.
Upton added an RBI single in the eighth, but Adam Cimber struck out Kole Calhoun with two on to end the inning.
Franmil Reyes, who was acquired in a threeteam trade Wednesday, lined a one-out double to left in the fifth for the Indians’ first hit. Kipnis homered to right, his 10th of the season.
Kevin Plawecki was hit by a pitch and Anderson replaced Cahill. Tyler Naquin singled and Lindor homered to center for his 19th of the season.
Pena sprained his right knee as he stepped on first base to record an out on a ground ball hit by Jose Ramirez. First baseman Albert Pujols fielded the ball and made a high underhand toss to Pena, who was covering the bag.
Pena reached for the ball and his left foot landed on the base. He hopped around on his left foot before going to the ground in pain holding his right leg. The pitcher was eventually carried to the dugout by Pujols and a trainer.
Notable
Indians right-hander Corey Kluber (broken forearm) threw 35 pitches in a simulated game. He could begin a minorleague rehabilitation assignment Thursday.
Right-hander Danny Salazar (strained right groin) will rehab the injury in Tampa, Florida, before starting a throwing program.