The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Bauer’s power sends Tigers to the shower
Starter fans 11 as Tribe continues mastery of Detroit, tightens grip on A.L. Central
Trevor Bauer is piling up the strikeouts. And the Indians are piling up the wins. Bauer (7-5) struck out 11 over 6 1/3 innings to beat Detroit for the fourth time this season, leading Cleveland past the Tigers, 4-1, for their sixth straight win overall.
The right-hander recorded his seventh double-figure strikeout game of the season, including five of his last six starts. Bauer has struck out 140 this season and is tied for the AL lead with Boston’s Chris Sale.
“I definitely take pride in it,” Bauer said. “It’s what I enjoy doing most, punching guys out.”
Bauer’s consecutive games with double-digit strikeouts was interrupted Monday by a rain delay after he struck out eight in seven innings against the Chicago White Sox. He threw 100 pitches and didn’t return after the delay.
“I wish it hadn’t rained last game,” he said. “It would have been six in a row, but I’ll start a new streak this time.”
Bauer allowed a run in the second inning on a wild pitch and was pulled after Dixon Machado’s one-out single in the seventh. He’s 4-0 with a 1.23 ERA in four starts against the Tigers.
“He’s got quality pitches across the board,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “That’s part of what’s making him so good.”
Francisco Lindor hit a leadoff homer in the fifth, and Jose Ramirez — who reached base in his 30th consecutive game — and Edwin Encarnacion had RBI singles in a three-run first.
Cody Allen struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 16th save in 17 opportunities.
Francisco Liriano (3-3), making his first start in a month, allowed three runs — two earned — in four innings. The left-hander, who strained his right hamstring against the White Sox on May 26, threw 40
pitches in the first.
“He was rushing and after the first inning we told him you got to slow down,” Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire said. “Just make your pitches and don’t overthrow the ball. We had a chance to get out of there and we cost him some extra pitches in the first.”
Detroit lost its fourth straight and committed three errors. Catcher James McCann dropped a throw from center field that allowed a run to score in the
first.
Bauer struck out the game’s first two hitters, but a walk, single and a hit by pitch loaded the bases. McCann struck out, ending the 28-pitch inning. Bauer allowed five hits, walked two, hit two batters and threw 112 pitches.
Cleveland’s first consisted of four hits, two walks, two wild pitches and McCann’s error. Ramirez singled in the first to score Lindor. Encarnacion followed with another single for a 2-0 lead.
Following a wild pitch, Brandon Guyer singled to center.
Encarnacion would have been out by 10 feet, but scored on a slide when McCann couldn’t hang on to Leyonis Martin’s throw.
Liriano made his first start since straining his right hamstring against the Chicago White Sox on May 26.
Oliver Perez retired the final two batters in the seventh and Neil Ramirez worked a scoreless eighth.