Hernandez (9-4) improved to 5-0 in eight starts since returning from the disabled list, throwing 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball.
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“I don’t think there’s one magic thing that I can put my finger on”, said Kluber.
Indians manager Terry Francona said the pitch “came down a little bit, but it was supposed to come at the knee so he could chase it”. “That was a big grand slam Mitch hit, for sure”. Griffin had his most effective start of the season, allowing five hits and one walk in six innings for his first win since August 4.
Early run support went a long way to helping Texas Rangers right-hander A.J. Griffin produce his best outing of the season and outpitch the best road pitcher in the major leagues this season.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) – Whatever could go wrong for right-hander Carlos Carrasco and the Cleveland Indians did during the first inning against the Texas Rangers.
Granted the Indians offense has been spectacular this season ranking second in the American League and fifth in the Majors in runs scored, on this road trip, they have been nearly unwatchable. Rougned Odor’s hard grounder to first bounced off Carlos Santana’s glove for a run-scoring error and Moreland followed with his second career slam. The Indians maintained their 4 1/2-game lead in the Central.
Texas has the American League’s best record, two games ahead of Cleveland. Sale (15-7) gave up five hits and walked none in his fifth complete game of the season.
Beltran also dumped an opposite-field hit just inside the left-field line that eluded Ramirez and left fielder Abraham Almonte.
Elvis Andrus’ seven-game hitting streak ended on his 28th birthday.
“Hey, anything can happen when you put the baseball in play”, Banister said.
Most of the pitchers have shown glimpses of their early season success but whether they can get back to being consistently dominant remains to be seen. In the seven games against the Rangers and A’s, the Indians scored one run or less in 6 of them (4 games with one run, two shutouts) and were outscored 32-16. Francisco Liriano had his first win with Toronto to help the Blue Jays take a one-game lead in the AL East.
“I missed a sign”, Carrasco said. “So, no, thank you for that”.
Texas reliever Jeremy Jeffress wasn’t with the team Friday after his overnight arrest on a drunken driving charge in Dallas. OF Carlos Gomez is 0-for-11 with six strikeouts since homering in his Texas debut at-bat on Thursday.
Indians: Francona said there’s no timetable for when C Yan Gomes (right shoulder separation) will begin a rehab session. He has hit safely in 27 of his last 31 games.
Rangers: RHP Colby Lewis (right lat strain) is scheduled to make his second rehab start on Monday for Double-A Frisco.
Danny Salazar (11-5) matched his season high with 10 strikeouts and allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings, but the Indians managed only one run in six innings against Derek Holland.
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Texas Rangers Adrian Beltre (29) slides into home plate, beating the throw to Cleveland Indians catcher Chris Gimenez, left, as umpire John Tumpane, right, looks on during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, S.
