Wednesday, July 26, 2017 07:10 PM (ET)

Late-inning outburst carries Indians to 10-4 win over Angels

The Sports Xchange
Jul 26, 2017

CLEVELAND -- Bradley Zimmer's two-out RBI double in the seventh inning broke a 2-2 tie and the Cleveland Indians scored seven more times in the eighth inning in rolling to a 10-4 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night at Progressive Field.

The victory extended Cleveland's winning streak to six games.

Reliever Bryan Shaw (4-4) pitched one scoreless inning to get the win. Angels starter Ricky Nolasco (4-12) took the loss.

With the score tied 2-2, Austin Jackson led off the bottom of the seventh with a single. With one out and Erik Gonzalez at the plate, Jackson appeared to steal second base and then advanced to third on a wild throw to second.

But batter's interference was called on Gonzalez, who, after swinging and missing, fell in front of catcher Martin Maldonado, hampering the throw to second. Jackson had to return to first.

Nolasco then retired Gonzalez on a lineout, but Zimmer, who homered leading off the first inning, bounced a double off the left-center field wall on a 3-2 pitch from Nolasco, scoring Jackson with the go-ahead run.

RBI hits by Carlos Santana, Jackson, Yan Gomes, Erik Gonzalez, Michael Brantley and Brandon Guyer in the eighth inning provided Cleveland with seven insurance runs. The Indians collected 17 hits in the game.

The Indians and starter Carlos Carrasco took a 2-1 lead into the seventh inning, but Luis Valbuena, the first batter of the inning, hit one into the seats in right field for his 11th home run of the season, and his second in as many nights, tying it at 2.

In the first two games of the series, Valbuena, who played for the Indians from 2009 to 2011, is 4-for-8 with a double, two home runs and four RBIs.

Carrasco then gave up a single to Ben Revere and a sacrifice bunt, putting the go-ahead run at second with one out. But Shaw, in relief of Carrasco, retired Kaleb Cowart and Yunel Escobar on groundouts to end the inning.

Carrasco pitched 6 1/3 innings, giving up two runs and six hits with five strikeouts and no walks.

Nolasco pitched 6 2/3 innings, giving up three runs and nine hits with four strikeouts and two walks.

The Indians' last batter in Tuesday night's game, Edwin Encarnacion, hit a home run, and their first batter in Wednesday's game also homered.

Leading off the bottom of the first inning, Zimmer hit Nolasco's second pitch of the game over the wall in center field for his seventh home run of the season.

The Angels tied it in the second inning against Carrasco. With one out, Andrelton Simmons got hit by a pitch. Valbuena followed with a double to left field, scoring Simmons to make it 1-1.

The Indians took a 2-1 lead in the fourth. Encarnacion led off with a walk and went to second on an infield single by Jose Ramirez. Carlos Santana singled, but Angels right fielder Cole Calhoun threw out Encarnacion at the plate for the first out.

Jackson struck out for the second out. But Yan Gomes slapped a single to right field, scoring Ramirez and giving the Indians a 2-1 lead.

NOTES: The Indians recalled RHP Shawn Armstrong from Triple-A Columbus and optioned OF Abraham Almonte to Columbus. Manager Terry Francona said the move was made to bolster the Indians' bullpen after heavy usage in Tuesday's 11-inning game. ... During their six-game winning streak, the Indians outscored their opponents 50-18. ... Tuesday night marked the first time in Angels history that they gave up two grand slams in a game. They were hit by Indians OF Bradley Zimmer and DH Edwin Encarnacion. ... The Angels recalled RHP Brooks Pounders from Triple-A Salt Lake and optioned LHP Jose Alvarez to Salt Lake. ... When Angels RHP Bud Norris gave up a walk-off grand slam to Indians DH Edwin Encarnacion in the 11th inning on Tuesday night, it snapped a streak of 19 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings by Angels relievers.
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