Yankees clobber Indians

YANKEES 7, INDIANS 4

CLEVELAND — Cleveland Indians Manager Terry Francona trusted Corey Kluber to keep the New York Yankees from scoring.

At this point, he has no better option.

Kluber gave up a goahead double to Aaron Hicks with one out in the eighth inning as New York scored late against Cleveland’s ace and downed the Indians 7-4 on Thursday night in the Yankees’ first visit to Progressive Field since last year’s American League playoffs.

After fouling a pitch off his foot, Hicks drove a 3-2 delivery from Kluber (12-5) to deep center field, scoring Didi Gregorius easily from first base when the ball onehopped the wall.

Although Kluber was at 100 pitches through seven innings, Francona elected to stick with him in the eighth rather than turn things over to his shaky bullpen, which has the league’s highest ERA and is missing Andrew Miller.

“I thought he was fine,” Francona said of Kluber. “And he was at what, 100? And I thought he was throwing the ball well. I thought he was in command of what he was doing.”

The Yankees added another run in the inning on Greg Bird’s sacrifice fly off Oliver Perez.

Brett Gardner homered twice and Gregorius also connected for the Yankees, who overcame a 2-0 deficit and won the Division Series by beating Kluber in Game 5 last October.

New York is 30 games over .500 for the first time this season, and for the first time before the All-Star break since 1998, when it won the World Series.

Yankees All-Star ace Luis Severino only pitched five innings, but Manager Aaron Boone got four hitless

innings from Adam Warren, David Robertson (6-3), Dellin Betances and closer Aroldis Chapman, who got three outs for his 25th save — in his first appearance since Saturday because of a sore left knee.

“Every win’s a good win,” Boone said. “That was a good win up against a great pitcher. Up and down the lineup we had big at-bats in big spots. On a night when Sevy didn’t have his best, the rest of the guys were able to come through in a big way.”

Jose Ramirez and Edwin Encarnacion homered off Severino, who was denied his major league-leading 15th victory.

The marquee matchup between Kluber and Severino — two of baseball’s top pitchers — had everyone excited.

“This is one of those games where if I wasn’t a manager, I’d come watch the game,” Francona quipped beforehand.

But neither Kluber nor Severino brought their “A” game Thursday. The All-Stars each gave up two home runs, both were hit harder than expected and they were forced to pitch out of trouble throughout their stints.

Severino allowed 4 runs and 9 hits in 5 innings and recorded just 1 strikeout, his fewest since 2016.

“We did a great job against Severino. He’s got exceptional stuff,” Francona said. “We scored. We made him throw pitches. We got him out after five, but their bullpen is also exceptional. They brought in four guys that are pretty good and they kind of did a number on us.”

Kluber, who lost the decisive Game 5 to the Yankees last October while battling a stiff lower back, was at 100 pitches to start the eighth, but Francona stuck with him anyway. The right-hander walked Gregorius on four pitches to start the inning and then gave up the double to Hicks, who was just 3 for 25 in his career against the two-time Cy Young Award winner.

“I was looking for a heater,” Hicks

said. “I was looking for something middle-in I could drive. I got a lot of changeups. I was swinging and missing at it a lot. The pitch before that I got a heater that I just missed. I think that’s what got me a changeup in that situation. I just wanted to stay on the ball.”

Severino’s previous start on this road trip, last Saturday at Toronto, also lasted just five innings.

In that game, Severino gave up three runs — on a pair of home runs — but won his fifth consecutive start, 8-5, against the fourth-place Blue Jays.

And after giving up just six home runs over his first 18 starts, Severino has now surrendered four home runs in his past 10 innings.

Severino gave up more home runs (2) than he totaled in strikeouts (1) on a night when even Cleveland’s outs against the right-hander were hard hit.

Since June 1, New York’s relievers have a 1.64 ERA — the lowest in the majors and a full run better than second-place Houston (2.70).

Ramirez connected for his fourth home run in three games to tie it 4-4 in the fifth. The 25-year-old has 28 home runs, breaking Albert Belle’s club record for the most before the All-Star break. Ramirez is also tied with Boston’s J.D. Martinez for the major league lead.

ATHLETICS 6, ASTROS 4 Mark Canha’s two-RBI single in Oakland’s three-run eighth inning lifted the team to a victory over host Houston. RED SOX 6, BLUE JAYS 4 Mookie Betts

fouled off seven pitches before hitting a grand slam that helped Boston beat visiting Toronto, extending its winning streak to 10 games. Boston has the longest current winning streak in the big leagues and hasn’t lost since getting routed by the Yankees 11-1 on July 1 in New York. At 66-29, the Red Sox are 37 games over .500 for the first time since 1949.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

ROCKIES 5, DIAMONDBACKS 1 Gerardo Parra and Raimel Tapia had pinch-hit RBI singles in host Colorado’s three-run sixth inning, helping the team beat Arizona. Trevor Story homered for the Rockies, and Kyle Freeland pitched six-hit ball into the sixth inning. DJ LeMahieu had two hits and drove in a run. PIRATES 6, BREWERS 3 Jameson Taillon had a career-high 10 strikeouts, Jordy Mercer tied his career high with four RBI and Pittsburgh beat visiting Milwaukee. NATIONALS 5, METS 4 Max Scherzer made a final pitch to start the All-Star Game on his own mound, Anthony Rendon hit two home runs and Bryce Harper also connected, leading Washington over host New York.

INTERLEAGUE

PHILLIES 5, ORIOLES 4 Jorge Alfaro homered and drove in three runs, Nick Pivetta took a three-hitter into the seventh inning and visiting Philadelphia beat Baltimore.