Indians 7, Reds 1
Corey Kluber took a shutout into the eighth inning and Lonnie Chisenhall blasted a three-run homer as host Cleveland claimed the opener of a four-game, home-and-home series.
Kluber (12-6) struck out seven and allowed one run and six hits over 7 1/3 innings to win his fifth straight decision. Yan Gomes added a two-run homer and Michael Brantley had two hits and two RBIs for the Indians, who have won four straight.
Cincinnati's Alfredo Simon (12-7) lost his fourth straight start, giving up five runs and six hits over five innings. Jay Bruce and Devin Mesoraco each had two hits for the Reds, who were 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
The Indians staked Kluber to an early lead when Brantley's groundout brought home Jason Kipnis in the first. Chisenhall's blast to center opened it up in the fourth and Brantley added an RBI single an inning later for a 5-0 lead.
Brayan Pena's RBI double off Nick Hagadone scored an inherited runner in the eighth, ending Kluber's scoreless streak at 17 1/3 innings and snapping his string of 25 1/3 innings without allowing an earned run. Gomes ended any notion of the Reds making things interesting when he crushed a 2-2 fastball from Carlos Contreras out to left in the eighth to make it 7-1.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Brantley has recorded multiple hits in five straight games, his third such streak this season. … Pena extended his hitting streak to nine games, matching his longest of the season. … Indians 1B/DH Nick Swisher sat out with a sore right wrist and is day-to-day.