Walker tosses six-inning gem as Mariners edge Indians

CLEVELAND — Taijuan Walker allowed just an unearned run over six innings, Norichika Aoki had a two-run triple in the second and the Seattle Mariners beat the Cleveland Indians 2-1 on Wednesday night.

Walker (1-0) held Cleveland to three hits and struck out six in defeating the Indians for the third time in a year. The right-hander beat Cleveland twice last season and has allowed one earned run in 20 innings over three appearances.

Jason Kipnis’ sacrifice fly in the third scored Cleveland’s run, which was unearned thanks to first baseman Adam Lind’s fielding error.

Danny Salazar (2-1) allowed two runs and three hits in seven innings, but his mistake to Aoki cost him the game.

Salazar struck out seven and didn’t give up a hit after Aoki’s triple. The right-hander retired 11 straight and 16 of the final 18 he faced. Salazar has a 1.47 ERA in three starts.

Steve Cishek, the Mariners’ third reliever, pitched a perfect ninth for his second save.

Lind singled and Chris Iannetta walked to start the second. Salazar retired the next two batters, but Aoki sent a hard grounder past first baseman Mike Napoli that rolled into the corner to score both runners.

Cleveland’s only threat came in the third. Juan Uribe led off with a double, but was caught in a rundown and tagged out trying for third on Tyler Naquin’s ground ball to the mound.

Naquin took third when Lind was charged with an error after he couldn’t handle Jose Ramirez’s ground ball near the bag at first. Kipnis’ fly ball to centre scored Naquin.

Aoki’s triple was enough for the Mariners to win despite scoring three runs or fewer for the 10th time in 14 games.

Walker didn’t issue a walk and hit a batter. He had no-decisions in his first two starts, pitching six innings in both.