Cleveland Indians Beat Mariners 5-3, Split Series

The Cleveland Indians beat the Seattle Mariners 5-3 and split the four-game series. Despite being outhit 13 to 7, the Indians were able to come from behind to raise their season record to 33-26 on the season. The loss drops the Mariners to 33-27 on the season.

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Indians starter Josh Tomlin pitched another solid game for the Indians, working 6 1/3 innings and allowing just two runs. He did allow nine hits, including a pair of home runs but he walked none again and struck out four. The Mariners first got to Tomlin in the 1st inning on a solo home run off the bat of Robinson Cano to make it 1-0 Mariners. They nearly added a second run in the inning on somewhat of a bizarre play. With Nelson Cruz on first base, Corey Seager doubled off the top of the wall in left field, missing a home run by about an inch. On the play, Cruz was thrown out trying to score ending the inning. The Mariners challenged the play, thinking ti may have been a home run; however, replay confirmed the ball did not leave the yard.

Tomlin was then able to keep the Mariners off the board until the 8th when he allowed a leadoff home run to Adam Lind to tie the game at 2-2. Dan Otero would come on in relief of Tomlin and get both batters he faced out. After the Indians took the lead back, Bryan Shaw started the 8th inning but after a home run to Cano (his second of the game) made it 5-3, closer Cody Allen would eventually come in to get the final out of the inning. Allen would then make things interesting in the 9th, giving up hits to Nori Aoki and Seth Smith; however, he was able to get Cano to strike out to end the game and earn his 13th save on the season. Otero picked up the win his first of the year  (1-0) and lowered his season ERA to 0.73.

The Indians weren’t able to get much going offensively against Mariners starter Nate Karns, despite the pitcher’s inability to throw strikes at times. Karns allowed only two hits but walked five and left after just 4 1/3 innings. He was charged with one run after Jose Ramirez smacked an RBI single to right, scoring Carlos Santana. On the play Francisco Lindor attempted to score but was thrown out at the plate, keeping the score tied 1-1.  The Indians would take the lead in the 7th inning on a two-out RBI single by Mike Napoli, scoring Chris Gimenez, who got the start behind the plate for the injured Yan Gomes, and giving the Tribe a 2-1 lead.

The Indians retook the lead in the top of the 8th thanks to another walk to Rajai Davis and then a two-run home run by rookie Tyler Naquin on an 0-2 pitch that nearly bounced in the dirt. Naquin, however, was able to golf the pitch and just cleared the right field wall. It was his fourth home run on the season, all of which have come since he was recalled last week. The Indians added a fifth run thanks to a fielding error by pitcher Joaquin Benoit that allowed Gimenez to reach second. Jason Kipnis would then drive him in with an RBI single making it 5-2 Indians.

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The Indians will now head down the coast to take on the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in a three-game series beginning Friday night. Corey Kluber (5-6, 3.84 ERA) will get the start in the opener for the Indians. The Angels will counter with left-hander Hector Santiago (3-3, 5.07). First pitch is scheduled for 10:10 pm at Angels Stadium of Anaheim.