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Cleveland Indians blow out Cincinnati Reds for second game in a row

By Jim Ingraham, The Sports Xchange
Cleveland Indians pitcher Danny Salazar. File photo Brian Kersey/UPI
Cleveland Indians pitcher Danny Salazar. File photo Brian Kersey/UPI | License Photo

CLEVELAND -- Danny Salazar pitched 7 1/3 strong innings and the Cleveland Indians' offense pummeled Cincinnati Reds pitching for the second consecutive night as the Indians rolled 13-1 Tuesday night at Progressive Field.

In winning the first two games of the series, which will continue in Cincinnati on Wednesday and Thursday, Cleveland scored 28 runs on 36 hits.

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Reds pitchers lead the National League in walks, and in Cleveland's five-run fifth inning Tuesday night reliever Steve Delabar walked four consecutive batters with the bases loaded.

Cincinnati starter Alfredo Simon (1-4) was rocked for 10 runs on 14 hits in 4 1/3 innings. In the first two games of the series, the Reds' starters, John Lamb and Simon, had an ERA of 18.36, having given up 17 runs on 24 hits in 8 1/3 innings.

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The Indians, who had 19 hits on Monday, pounded out 17 more on Tuesday. Rajai Davis had three hits and three RBIs. Francisco Lindor and Lonnie Chisenhall also had three hits, while Carlos Santana and Mike Napoli had two hits each.

Salazar (4-2) held Cincinnati scoreless on one hit through the first six innings. He gave up one run on five hits with eight strikeouts and one walk.

Cleveland scored 12 runs in the first five innings. Their other run came in the sixth on an RBI single by Napoli.

The Reds scored their only run in the seventh inning when Adam Duvall followed three straight singles with a sacrifice fly.

After scoring 15 runs in eight innings on Monday, the Indians scored seven runs in the first three innings Tuesday, off Simon.

With one out in the bottom of the second Yan Gomes singled. Chisenhall flied out for the second out, but the next five Indians reached base. Marlon Byrd singled Gomes to second. Davis, singled, scoring Gomes and sending Byrd to third. Byrd then scored on a wild pitch to give Cleveland and 2-0 lead.

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Carlos Santana drew a walk, loading the bases. Jason Kipnis ripped a line drive single to center field, scoring Davis and Santana and pushing the Indians lead to 4-0.

Lindor followed with a double, moving Kipnis to third, but the inning ended when Napoli, the ninth batter of the inning, flied out for the third out.

The Indians added three more runs in the third inning. Jose Ramirez singled and went to second on a single by Chisenhall. Byrd struck out for the second out. But Davis doubled, scoring Ramirez and Chisenhall and the Indians had a 7-0 lead.

It got even worse for the Reds in the fifth inning.

An RBI single by Santana and four consecutive bases loaded walks drawn by Napoli, Ramirez, Gomes, and Chisenhall off reliever Delabar stretched the Indians' lead to 12-0.

NOTES: Indians OF Lonnie Chisenhall was activated off the bereavement list. To make room on the roster for Chisenhall, RHP Cody Anderson was optioned to Triple-A Columbus. ... The Indians also announced that RHP Mike Clevinger, 5-0 with a 3.03 ERA in seven starts at Columbus, will be called up to start Wednesday's game in Cincinnati, his major league debut. ... Reds OF Jay Bruce has a .373 career batting average (31-for-83) at Progressive Field. That includes four home runs and 12 RBIs. ... The Reds entered the game with a National League-low three saves, all by LHP Tony Cingrani.

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