Francisco Lindor hit a three-run shot in the fifth as the Cleveland Indians completed a three-game sweep of the los angeles angels with a 4-1 triumph Thursday at Angels Stadium. Earlier, manager Terry Francona considered giving Lindor a day off but the shortstop insisted on playing. The decision paid dividends as Lindor’s three-run shot lifted the Indians (96-57) to their fifth straight win.
While the Indians’ 22-game winning run ended recently, they still have one winning streak going as they clinched their 15th straight road win. The 1983-84 Detroit Tigers hold the record with 21.
Even though they clinched the AL Central title, the Indians don’t plan to rest. They plan to pursue the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in the majors and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and World Series.
Francona used starter Danny Salazar for just 2 2/3 frames while he gave regular starters Jose Ramirez, Jason Kipnis and Austin Jackson a day off. After Salazar yielded a run-scoring double to Albert Pujols in the first, the Angels’ bats went silent from there on. The Indians hurlers limited them to just three hits the rest of the way. Zach McAllister (2-2) earned the win after pitching a 1 2/3 innings while Tyler Olson notched his first save of the season with a scoreless ninth.
Angels slipped in Wild Card race
Parker Bridwell (8-3) took the loss after yielding four runs on five hits with two walks and a strikeout in 5 1/3 innings on the mound as the Angels suffered their fourth straight loss. This is a big blow to their playoff chances. The Angels (76-76) dropped two games behind the Minnesota Twins in the race for the second AL Wild Card.
After the game, MLB.com reported that Bridwell blamed the pitching mistakes committed by the Angels that hurt them down the stretch.
Pujols put the Angels on board
Salazar had a rocky start, walking Mike Trout with one out and giving up a run-scoring double to Pujols with two outs in the first inning. The Indians knotted the count in the second frame behind a solo homer by Edwin Encarnacion, who clubbed his 37th long ball of the season.
In the fifth, Yan Gomes reached first when Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun failed to catch his flyball. Then, Giovanny Urshela hit a line drive that eluded Andrelton Simmons before Lindor hit a three-run shot to give the Indians a more comfortable lead. The Indians will put right-hander Trevor Bauer (16-9) on the mound when they open a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners starting Friday. The Angels, for their part, will travel to Houston to face the Astros.
