Pinch-hitter’s home run, five-RBI day helps Tribe smash Dodgers and avoid a sweep

Lonnie Chisenhall usually senses when Indians manager Terry Francona is going to call on him as a pinch-hitter.

That moment came earlier than normal for Chisenhall on June 15, and he was ready.

Chisenhall connected for a three-run, pinch-hit homer in the fifth inning and had five RBI as Cleveland salvaged the finale of a three-game series by beating Los Angeles, 12-5, and stopping the Dodgers’ six-game winning streak.

After the Dodgers closed to 5-4 in the fifth, Chisenhall hit a 415foot drive on the second pitch

from Ross Stripling to open a four-run lead for Josh Tomlin (4-8), who struggled after being staked to a 5-0 lead.

Chisenhall added a two-run single in the sixth, making him the third Cleveland player since 1913 to come off the bench and record five RBI or more.

“Tito finds those good situations for guys and you try to not read his mind,” Chisenhall said of Francona.

hit more through 47 games, slugging 19.

“I don’t know what else there is to say,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of his 21-year-old first baseman. “I’ve tried to use all the ways to describe him. The home runs and the production are just a by-product of his care in wanting to be a great baseball player and helping us to win games.”

Tomlin got help from Cleveland’s offense and did just enough to cool off the Dodgers, who were in a five-run hole after two innings but closed within a run in the fifth on Yasiel Puig’s RBI double and Chris Taylor’s two-run homer.

Hill, who was facing the Indians for the first time since leaving as a free after the 2013 season, walked Encarnacion opening the fifth and was pulled for Stripling after Carlos Santana singled.

Chisenhall took one pitch before sending his eighth homer, and second as a pinch-hitter, into the seats in right to make it 8-4.

“It’s an adrenaline rush going up there, especially it’s always a crunch-time situation,” Chisenhall said, “so you want to go up there and make sure you’re taking hacks that are going to help the team.”

The Indians added three runs with two outs in the sixth on Chisenhall’s single and Roberto Perez’s broken-bat blooper.

Tomlin is impressed with Chisenhall’s ability to come off the bench and deliver.

“He’s an intelligent player,” Tomlin said. “He’s been around for a little while. He pays attention to the game and he knows when his number is going to be called, they do a good job of letting him know. He’s a good player, that’s what good players do.”

Easy E

Encarnacion, who struggled in April and May, capped a two-run second with a homer onto the pedestrian plaza in left. He’s batting .341 with eight homers and 16 RBI in his last 24 games.

“He’s starting to look a lot like himself,” Francona said. “He’s taking a lot of good swings. It’s nice to get him going.”

TIM PHILLIS — THE NEWS-HERALD Edwin Encarnacion is batting .341 in his last 24 games.