Ramirez homers twice in rout

Tribe takes out its frustration on Reds pitching

Jose Ramirez homered twice and drove in five runs as the Indians took out some frustrations following a brutal loss with a 19-4 thumping of the Reds on July 11.

Ramirez hit a two-run homer in the first inning off Tyler Mahle (7-7) and connected for a threerun shot in Cleveland’s nine-run third. With the Indians up 17-0, the All-Star was replaced in the fifth inning by manager Terry Francona before he could inflict further damage.

Francisco Lindor added a three-run homer and Jason Kipnis homered as the Indians salvaged the interleague series finale by pounding their neighbors from southern Ohio and ending a fourgame slide.

It was a much-needed rebound by the AL Central leaders, who squandered a 4-0 lead in the ninth on July 10, when Francona’s miscommunication with pitching coach Carl Willis on a choice of relievers helped the Reds rally for seven runs and stun the Indians.

Carlos Carrasco (10-5) reached 1,000 career strikeouts, and given the humongous lead, coasted through five innings for his second straight win since coming off the disabled list. Adam Plutko worked four innings for his first career save.

Jesse Winker and Scooter Gennett homered for the Reds.

With 27 homers, Ramirez tied irascible slugger Albert Belle for the most in Cleveland history before the All-Star break, and the AL’s starting third baseman in the midsummer classic has four games to make the record his own.

He’s also just two homers shy from his entire total in 2017.

TONY DEJAK — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Jose Ramirez watches his three-run home run off Reds reliever Tanner Rainey in the third inning on July 11 at Progressive Field.