The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Civale coasts, Luplow drives in five in romp
Reyes, Perez, Gimenez, Hernandez also hit HRs
Aaron Civale allowed three hits while dominating Detroit over 72/3innings with backup bats in win, 11-3.
Aaron Civale allowed three hits while dominating Detroit over 7 2/3 innings and was backed by five home runs, including Jordan Luplow’s three-run shot, as the Indians pounded the Tigers, 113, on April 10.
Luplow narrowly missed a second three-run homer, settling for a two-run double to finish with a career-high five RBI.
Civale (2-0), who beat the Tigers in his season debut a week ago, continued a run of strong starting pitching for Cleveland, whose rotation has a 2.60 ERA through seven games. The right-hander gave up two singles and faced the minimum through six innings before Robbie Grossman homered in the seventh.
Civale didn’t issue a walk and struck out six before manager Terry Francona replaced him in the eighth after 90 pitches.
“He pitched really well,” Francona said. “He threw his breaking ball for lead strikes. He elevated his fastball. He threw a good changeup. Kind of like (Zach) Plesac last night, they had to respect three different pitches and three different speeds.”
Jeimer Candelario hit a two-run homer in the ninth for Detroit.
Luplow’s 432-foot shot to straightaway center with two outs in the fourth off Tarik Skubal (0-1) put the Indians ahead 6-0.
Franmil Reyes hit his third homer in two days, Roberto Pérez and Andrés Giménez each added a two-run homer and César Hernández had a solo shot for the Indians, who will try to complete a threegame series sweep April 11.
The Indians have homered nine times in their past three games. They’re 4-0 when hitting more than one homer, and their 14 homers in the first seven games are the most by a Cleveland team since the 1997 Indians hit 15.
After breaking down his own performance, Civale tipped his cap to Cleveland’s offense.
“One more thing,” Civale said, wrapping up his Zoom session. “Runs are awesome. That was fun.”
Luplow appeared to hit his second three-run homer in the sixth, but the umpires ruled it hit the top of the wall in left and the call of a double was upheld following an unusually long video review.
Luplow crouched at second base almost as if he was praying while the umpires conferred with replay headquarters in New York and fans watched several replays on the giant scoreboard.
Francona didn’t argue with plate umpire Kerwin Danley, but not because he agreed with the ruling.
“I told Kerwin if the game would’ve been closer they might’ve had a first where somebody in New York would’ve had to throw me out,” Francona joked. “I thought it was a home run, too.”
With Detroit starting a left-hander, Luplow got the start in center because he’s a .270 career hitter against lefties. In the fourth, Yu Chang doubled with one out, Pérez walked, and one out later, Luplow rocketed his second homer to the deepest part of Progressive Field.
Pain free
Pérez battled a shoulder injury all last season. And while it didn’t bother him defensively (he won a Gold Glove), it impacted how he swung the bat.
Pérez hit just one homer in 97 at-bats in 2020. He’s already doubled that total, and after losing 25 pounds in the offseason, he feels better than he has in years.
“It’s nice to see him playing freely and it’s fun to watch,” Civale said. “I mean, it’s fun to watch just as a teammate and I’m sure as fans they definitely enjoy that.”