Bieber wins again

ST. LOUIS » Edwin Encarnacion and Lonnie Chisenhall hit backto-back homers, rookie Shane Bieber pitched six strong innings and the Indians beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-1 on June 27.

Bieber (3-0) struck out seven to become the seventh pitcher in baseball’s modern era to strike out six or more batters in each of his first four major-league starts. Bieber has given up just two runs in his last three starts and lowered his ERA to 2.22.

The Indians avoided a series sweep and have won eight of 10. Cleveland starters improved to 17-2 with a 2.26 ERA across 26 starts in series finales, including wins in their last nine decisions.

Bieber ambushed a firstpitch fastball from Jack Flaherty in the fourth for a double, his first majorleague hit.

Jose Martinez snapped Bieber’s scoreless innings streak at 14 innings with a one-out RBI single in the third.

Encarnacion and Chisenhall gave the Indians a 2-0 lead in the second, marking Cleveland’s fifth back-to-back home runs this season.

Francisco Lindor walked and Michael Brantley doubled to spark a two-run third that extended the Indians’ lead to 4-0.

Tyler Naquin doubled home another run in the sixth.

Flaherty (3-3) went four innings, his shortest outing this season as the Cardinals had their four-game winning streak snapped.

It followed perhaps his most dominant start, in which he carried a nohitter for 6 1/3 innings against Milwaukee on Friday.

Matt Carpenter walked, doubled and scored his sixth run in his last two games.

Training room

INDIANS » RHP Carlos Carrasco (right elbow contusion) threw a bullpen session and will throw about 65 pitches on a rehab assignment Saturday at Double-A Akron. CARDINALS » SS Paul DeJong (left hand fracture) is scheduled to meet with doctors Thursday with the hopes of being cleared to head out for a rehab assignment.

Up next

INDIANS » RHP Trevor Bauer (7-5, 2.44 ERA) will kick off a three-game series against Oakland and RHP Paul Blackburn (12, 8.83 ERA) on Friday. Bauer is 1-2 with a 4.44 ERA in five career starts against the A’s. CARDINALS » RHP Miles Mikolas (8-2, 2.69 ERA) will get the start as St. Louis hosts Atlanta and RHP Julio Teheran (55, 4.52 ERA) in the first of a three-game set Friday. Mikolas threw 2 1/3 scoreless relief innings in his only career appearance against the Braves on Aug. 15, 2012.

JEFF ROBERSON — ASSOCIATED PRESS Lonnie Chisenhall, left, is congratulated by Jason Kipnis after hitting a solo home run during the second inning.