Baltimore Orioles vs Cleveland Guardians Box Score on Sep 08, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Sep 8, 2017

CLEVELAND -- Edwin Encarnacion belted a three-run home run in the first inning, while Mike Clevinger pitched six scoreless innings and combined with three relievers on a four-hit shutout as the Cleveland Indians won their team-record 16th game in a row, beating the Baltimore Orioles 5-0 on Friday night at Progressive Field.

During their winning streak, the Indians have outscored their opponents 114-28. It is Cleveland's fifth shutout during the winning streak, and their major league-high 17th shutout of the season.

Indians pitchers have held the opposition to two runs or fewer in 12 of the 16 games.

Clevinger (9-5) gave up three hits, struck out seven and walked three.

Baltimore starter Wade Miley (8-12) gave up four runs in 5 2/3 innings in taking the loss. The Orioles began the night two games behind Minnesota for the second wild card spot in the American League.

Leading 3-0, the Indians added a run in the sixth inning when they knocked Miley out of the game.

Yandy Diaz led off with a double, and two outs later Carlos Santana floated a fly ball down the right field line that bounced on the foul line for an RBI double, giving Cleveland a 4-0 lead.

That hit knocked Miley out of the game. He pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up four runs on six hits with four strikeouts and three walks.

The Indians made it 5-0 with another run in the seventh inning. Francisco Lindor singled off reliever Miguel Castro, and stole second with one out. Bradley Zimmer was intentionally walked, and Giovanny Urshela walked, loading the bases.

Encarnacion struck out for the second out. But while pitching to Jay Bruce, Castro threw a wild pitch that scored Lindor from third.

Cleveland wasted no time in taking an early lead. In the first inning, Austin Jackson reached first base after grounding into a force out at second. Diaz singled to right, moving Jackson to second.

Encarnacion then belted a three-run shot over the center field wall for his 34th homer of the year, giving the Indians a 3-0 lead. It marked the second consecutive game Encarnacion has hit a three-run home run in the first inning.

The Orioles threatened in the third inning when Tim Beckham walked and went to third on a two-out single by Manny Machado. But Jonathan Schoop, who is second in the American League with 102 RBIs, struck out to end the inning.

Clevinger held Baltimore scoreless on two hits through five innings. Miley settled down after Encarnacion's home run. He held the Indians scoreless on two hits over the next four innings.

NOTES: Indians LHP Andrew Miller threw off a mound in the bullpen and off the mound on the field, and is getting closer to a simulated game. Miller has been on the DL for all but three days since Aug. 2 with tendinitis in his right knee. ... 2B Jose Ramirez, who sat out his second straight game with a sore right wrist, is expected to be back in the lineup Saturday. . . The Orioles activated SS J.J. Hardy from the disabled list. Hardy had been on the DL since June 19 with a right wrist fracture. . . Orioles C Wellington Castillo was a late scratch from the starting lineup. No immediate explanation was given for the scratch. He was replaced by C Caleb Joseph.