M’s too much for the Tribe

The defending American League champions ran into an overpowering pitching performance. Ariel Miranda and two relievers combined to strike out 14 while allowing only four hits and the Mariners defeated the Indians, 3-1.

Miranda (2-2) allowed two hits in 5 1/3 innings, striking out seven. James Pazos struck out four and Edwin Diaz recorded the final four outs, three on strikeouts, for his fourth save.

“We didn’t do much,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “As he (Miranda) got into the game, you could tell he got a lot more comfortable. And then when they went to their bullpen, those are some pretty good arms.”

Robinson Cano and Ben Gamel homered off Carlos Carrasco (2-2), who allowed three runs in eight innings.

Miranda didn’t give up a hit until Jose Ramirez’s one-out homer in the fourth. The left-hander was making his first career appearance against the Indians.

“I just liked the way he was throwing, and once he got in the groove in the third and fourth inning, it’s just trying to get as much as we can out of him,” manager Scott Servais said.

Pazos struck out the first four hitters he faced before Diaz struck out Edwin Encarnacion with a runner on to end the eighth. Seattle’s closer, working for the third straight day, struck out two in a perfect ninth.

“That’s not a problem for me,” Diaz said of pitching more than one inning. “Last year I got a couple of situations coming into an inning where I had to get two outs. I felt fresh.”

Cano hit a two-run homer in the fourth. Gamel added a solo shot in the sixth, a towering drive to right.

Seattle won its third

straight despite the absence of Nelson Cruz, who was scratched because of a tight hamstring. The Mariners cleanup hitter leads the AL with 19 RBI.

Miranda walked two in the first and pitched around a two-out fielding error by third baseman Kyle Seager in the second. Ramirez’s long fly toward the bleachers in the fourth was ruled a double, but the call was reversed after a review.

Carrasco retired nine in a row after allowing a double to start the game. Gamel led off the fourth with a double and Cano homered to center. Cano is batting .411 (7 for 17) with two homers and six RBI in his career against the right-hander.

Taking up innings

Carrasco struck out seven and pitched eight innings for the second straight start.

“That’s good,” he said. “I’m pretty excited for that. That’s why we’re here to pitch deep in the game and try to put zeroes on the board.”

Three up

Browns first-round draft picks Myles Garrett, Jabrill Peppers and David Njoku each threw out a ceremonial first pitch. The three threw from the mound and were on target.