The Sports Xchange
Jun 19, 2017
BALTIMORE -- Jason Kipnis and Carlos Santana both homered, and Corey Kluber threw a three-hitter as the Cleveland Indians stretched their winning streak to six games with a 12-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles Monday night.
The Indians (37-31) entered the game leading the American League in doubles (133) and banged out seven more in this contest -- along with a triple and the two homers -- to give Kluber (6-2) more than enough offensive support.
Kluber allowed just three singles and retired 15 straight at one point while the Indians were building an early and mid-game lead. The right-hander dominated Baltimore, striking out 11 without a walk as he posted his fifth career shutout and second of this season.
The Indians have scored 52 runs in their six-game winning streak. They finished with 17 hits, scoring four in the fourth and four in the fifth plus three more in the sixth and one in the ninth.
Cleveland knocked out top Baltimore starter Dylan Bundy (7-6) after just 4 1/3 innings. He gave up six runs on six hits -- four doubles and a homer among them -- as the Indians made him throw 100 pitches.
Austin Jackson and Santana led the Indians with three RBIs apiece. Jackson contributed a two-run double plus a bloop run-scoring single while Santana added a two-run homer and a sacrifice fly.
Lonnie Chisenhall also drove in two runs while Jose Ramirez, picked as the American League Player of the Week on Monday, added two doubles and a triple in a 3-for-6 night.
The Orioles (34-35) now have allowed at least five runs in 16 straight games.
This game had a 29-minute rain delay at the start.
The Indians took command early thanks to back-to-back four-run innings in the fourth and fifth, which gave them an 8-0 lead.
Ramirez started everything with his one-out double off Bundy in the fourth, and Edwin Encarnacion followed with another two-bagger for a 1-0 lead. Chisenhall then made it three straight doubles and drove in the second run.
Later in the inning, Jackson lined a two-run double to left, which gave Cleveland a 4-0 lead.
Kipnis then made it 5-0 when he led off the fifth with a long homer to right.
Vidal Nuno replaced Bundy two batters later and allowed a two-run homer to Santana plus Jackson's bloop RBI double for the 8-0 lead in the fifth.
NOTES: SS J.J. Hardy was officially diagnosed with a non-displaced fracture of his right wrist Monday, and he should return in 4-6 weeks if everything goes well, said manager Buck Showalter. ...The Orioles moved back LHP Zach Britton's rehab assignment to Tuesday night at Aberdeen (short-season team) due to the rain on Monday. ...Cleveland LF Michael Brantley was put on the 10-day disabled list Monday (right ankle sprain). ... Indians DH Edwin Encarnacion's fourth-inning double was career hit No. 1,500.