Indians erase four-run deficit to top Rangers in opener
ARLINGTON, Texas -- The reigning American League champion Cleveland Indians rallied from a 5-1 deficit to top Texas 8-5 on Monday night.
The Indians overcame a two-homer night from Texas second baseman Rougned Odor by keeping the Rangers off the board after they built a 5-1 lead after three innings.
Cleveland knotted the score at 5 after eight innings and then ripped Texas closer Sam Dyson (0-1) for three runs in the ninth. Outfielder Abraham Almonte put the Indians up for good when he lined a single to center.
Cleveland wasn't done, though, as designed hitter Carlos Santana and outfielder Michael Brantley followed with run-scoring hits.
The rally made a winner of Andrew Miller (1-0), who worked a perfect eighth to get the ball to closer Cody Allen.
Allen worked around a one-out triple in the ninth by striking out the side on a night the Rangers had just two hits after battering Indians ace Corey Kluber for five runs in the first three innings.
Odor got his big night started by leading off the second with a solo homer to put the Rangers up 1-0. After the Indians tied the score on a sacrifice fly from shortstop Francisco Lindor in the third, the Rangers got to Kluber for four runs in the bottom of the third.
Texas outfielder Carlos Gomez opened the third with a long homer to left. After Kluber allowed a single and a walk, Odor hit his second homer deep to right center to extend the Texas lead to 5-1.
Cleveland trimmed the lead to 5-3 in the fourth on a two-run homer by second baseman Jose Ramirez.
The Indians kept chipping away, getting within a run in the seventh when Yandy Diaz scored on a wild pitch.
Cleveland knotted the score at 5 an inning later when Edwin Encarnacion launched a solo homer off Matt Bush.
Texas starter Yu Darvish struggled with his command, walking five and getting charged with four runs in his 6 1/3 innings. He struck out four.
Kluber didn't fare any better than Darvish, allowing five runs in his six innings. He struck out six but walked three.
NOTES: Texas 3B coach Tony Beasley sang the National Anthem after missing most of last season due to cancer treatment. ... The homer by Texas OF Carlos Gomez in the third inning was just the 20th to reach the club level in Globe Life Park history. He's the first Texas player to do so since Nelson Cruz in 2012. ... Cleveland 3B Yandy Diaz collected his first major-league hit with a double in the seventh inning and came around to score.