The Sports Xchange
Sep 3, 2017
DETROIT -- Jose Ramirez hit a pair of home runs plus three doubles for the 13th five-extra-base hit game by a player in major league history and Francisco Lindor set a club record for homers by a Cleveland shortstop with his 26th to lead the Indians to their 11th straight victory, 11-1 over the faltering Detroit Tigers on Sunday.
Ramirez's third double, in the eighth, made him the first player since the Chicago Cubs' Kris Bryant against the Cincinnati Reds in 2016 to collect five extra-base hits in a game. He tied the club record last done by Kelly Shoppach against the Tigers in 2008.
Lindor broke the old record for home runs by a shortstop that he shared with Asdrubal Cabrera (2011) when he hit a solo shot to deep right with one out in the sixth off reliever Zac Reininger, who then gave up a single to Austin Jackson and Ramirez's second home run of the game.
Alex Presley made a leaping try for Ramirez's 22nd home run in right but it glanced off his glove and hit the metal fencework above the yellow padding denoting a home run before bouncing back on the field.
Josh Tomlin (8-9) got two outs in the sixth before being relieved when Nicholas Castellanos hit a single to center. Tomlin gave up six hits in 5 2/3 innings, walked one and struck out two in his first start coming off the disabled list. JaCoby Jones' line RBI single to center with two out in the second produced Detroit's run.
Nick Goody got four outs after taking over for Tomlin, Zach McAllister pitched the eighth and Dan Otero the ninth.
Ramirez got some help on his first home run, which came three batters into the game off starting lefty Chad Bell (0-2), who gave up five runs on eight hits plus two walks in his four-innings (plus three batters in the fifth).
His 21st home run hit the yellow padding atop the left field fence, bounced down and hit it again, this time glancing toward the field. Mikie Mahtook tried to smack the ball firmly onto the field but swatted it over the fence instead.
"I knew it wasn't a home run because it didn't go over the fence," he said. "I tried to knock it back, but obviously I didn't."
Ramirez hit his first two doubles in between the home runs. He opened the third with a double and scored from third with a nice slide to avoid the tag on Carlos Santana's tapper back to the mound, giving the Indians a 4-1 lead.
Giovanny Urshela ran for Ramirez after his third double and scored on a double to left by Edwin Encarnacion. A bases-loaded walk to Roberto Perez made it 10-1 and an RBI double by Lonnie Chisenhall in the ninth made it 11-1.
Perez had an RBI single in the in the second with one out and Cleveland got a second run that inning on a bases-loaded forceout.
Yandy Diaz singled home a run in the fifth to boost the Indians' lead to 5-1 as Cleveland swept a team for the 10th time this season. The Indians turned five double plays in the game.
NOTES: Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said there will be a change to his rotation soon. "I do (know), but I'm not telling you." ... Cleveland OF Jay Bruce was held out of action again Sunday due to a stiff neck. "Hopefully he'll be ready to play Monday," manager Terry Francona said. ... 3B Jeimer Candelario, obtained from the Cubs in July as part of the deal for LHP Justin Wilson and C Alex Avila, is going to get plenty of time at third, Ausmus said. That means 3B Nicholas Castellanos will DH a lot. ... Indians CF Bradley Zimmer "showed up and feels good," Francona said, "which is good, but just because he was checked for a concussion (Saturday) he needs to be rechecked" in order to play again.