Diamondbacks sweep Indians to improve to 6-1
Corbin tosses 6 shutout innings
PHOENIX — A year ago, it took the Arizona Diamond- backs 22 tries, until May 16, to win six home games.
This year they did it in the first week of the season.
Patrick Corbin threw six scoreless innings, Chris Owings homered and had three hits and the Diamondbacks completed a three-game sweep of the Cleveland Indians with a 3-2 victory Sunday.
The win improved the Diamondbacks to 6-1, matching the best seven-game start in franchise history, set in 2000.
Arizona went 3-1 against San Francisco in the seasonopening series before sweeping the reigning AL champs.
“We had two quality teams come in here and we won a lot of games,” first-year manager Torey Lovullo said,
6-1 overall 3-3 overall
“and that should speak for itself.”
Cleveland’s Corey Kluber (0-1) scattered eight hits in six innings, allowing three runs, two earned. Kluber said he felt some tightness in his back but nothing serious, and he said it was a better performance than he had in the season opener in Texas, even if the outcome wasn’t.
Indians manager Terry Francona said he didn’t think being swept means a whole lot this early in the season.
“I know it is really early in the year but we feel like we have been away from home a really long time,” he said. “We will just go back home tomorrow and get the Central going and go play some ball games.”
Corbin (1-1) had the only Arizona loss in the seasonopening homestand. He gave up four hits, struck out three and walked two on Sunday.
“To sweep them, I mean, they’re a very good team,” Corbin said. “We know how talented they are, and to do that is pretty special.”
The Indians’ loaded lineup managed just seven runs in the series, and both their runs Sunday were unearned.
Fernando Rodney earned his second save in a dramatic ninth. With Cleveland down 3-1, Yan Gomes reached on third baseman Jake Lamb’s throwing error and scored on Abraham Almonte’s one-out single. Carlos Santana nearly gave Cleveland the lead when he flew out to the wall in front of the swimming pool in right field.
Rodney fanned Francisco Lindor to end the game.