Behind a strong outing from Carlos Carrasco, the Indians avoided a sweep at the hands of the Rangers to close out the six-game home stand with a 4-2 record.
Jason Kipnis stayed red-hot with a 3-5 day at the plate, and Nick Swisher, Carlos Santana and Lonnie Chisenhall all added home runs in the 12-3 route of the Rangers.
The most encouraging aspect of the offensive explosion was the fact that everyone got in on the action, as all nine starters collected a hit and seven of them drove in at least one run.
Carrasco’s performance was equally important, as he rebounded against a Rangers lineup that roughed him up for five runs earlier this month in Texas.
Other notes and thoughts on the game…
- Kipnis upped his May average to .447, which is currently tied with Tony Gwynn‘s 1997 season for the 11th highest May average (min. 100 PA) in the last 100 years. Todd Helton holds the mark at .512, set in 2000.
- Santana’s home run was the 104th of his career, tying him with Carlos Baerga for 20th on the Indians all-time list.
- Rangers starter Colby Lewis was roughed up for 10 runs in just 2 1/3 innings. It was just the 9th time the Indians have scored 10 off an opposing pitcher in Progressive Field. The most recent victim prior to Lewis was Jerome Williams, who also allowed 10 runs while with the Rangers last season.
- Lewis is just the third pitcher on that list to give up 10 in fewer than three innings. He joins Royals starter Luke Hudson (11 runs in 1/3 of an inning in 2006) and Tom Gordon, also of the Royals, (10 runs in one inning in 1995).
- The Indians head to Seattle for a four games series next. Luckily, they avoid Felix Hernandez.
https://twitter.com/TribeFanMcC/status/603678704821280770
A split in Seattle would be really nice, despite missing King Felix. They should be able to handle Taijuan Walker, assuming the dreaded fifth starter position doesn’t line up against him. Otherwise, definitely take the over in that game. But the other three games are going to be against J.A. Happ, James Paxton, and a third lefty in Roenis Elias who will most certainly give them fits since in addition to being left-handed, the Tribe has never faced him before, and we all know how they do against guys they’ve never faced before. Maybe more important than a split in a 4-game series where three of the potential starters you’re facing are left-handed is getting a win tonight with Kluber on the hill against Paxton to set the tone for the series. I don’t need to remind anyone about how terrible the Indians have been in series openers this season. At least tonight’s game is the only one that doesn’t fall on the weekend because these west coast games during the week really make me useless the next day at work. Well, more useless than usual at least.