Tribe swept by Arizona, head home 3-3

PHOENIX » The second series of the season went much differently than the first one for the Indians.

After sweeping Texas in three games, the Tribe fell to victim to a three-game sweep by the Diamondbacks, ending with a 3-2 setback on April 9.

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.”

Arizona starter Patrick Corbin threw six scoreless innings, and Chris Owings homered and had three hits.

“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 April 9 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.

The win improved the Diamondbacks to 6-1, matching the best sevengame start in franchise history, set in 2000.

Arizona went 3-1 against San Francisco in the season-opening 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, “and that should speak for itself.”

Corbin (1-1) had the only Arizona loss in the seasonopening homestand. He gave up four hits, struck out three and walked two on April 9.

Corbin retired the first seven batters before Austin Jackson’s one-out double into the right field corner in the third.

Arizona broke through with three consecutive twoout singles in the fourth.

David Descalso slapped

an opposite-field hit between third and short to bring home Jake Lamb for the first run. Owings tried to steal third and scored when catcher Gomes threw the ball into left field to make it 2-0.

Owings’ first homer of the season, on Kluber’s 0-2 pitch with one out in the sixth, boosted the Diamondbacks’ lead to 3 -0.

“We’re still laying that foundation,” Lovullo said. “You’ll probably hear me say it all year long. We’re not onto our second brick yet. We are still laying brick No. 1 of this foundation. We still have a long way to go.”

Wild seventh

The Indians scored in a challenging seventh inning.

Yandy Diaz led off with a single off reliever Andrew Chafin and took second when Gomes walked. Jackson grounded to second baseman Brandon Drury for what looked to be a double play. Drury flipped the ball high to Owings, who threw wildly to first for an error. Indians manager Terry Francona challenged that Owings didn’t touch second and after a review,

the call was changed, leaving runners at first and second and no outs.

Pinch-hitter Michael Martinez followed with a bunt and new reliever Archie Bradley threw a hard one-hopper to first, where Goldschmidt gathered it in. But first base umpire John Trumpane ruled Goldschmidt was pulled off the bag. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo challenged and the call was reversed.

Trainer’s room

Indians: OF Michael Brantley had a scheduled day off as the Indians work to keep him fresh after he missed most of last season following shoulder surgery.

Diamondbacks: RHPs Jake Barrett (right shoulder) and Rubby De La Rosa (right elbow), both on the 10-day DL, pitched live batting practice at the team’s facility in Scottsdale on Saturday.

Up next

The Tribe plays its home opener April 11 against the Chicago White Sox with RHP Carlos Carrasco (1-0, 3.18 ERA) getting the start against RHP James Shields (1-0, 1.69 ERA).