Lindor powers Indians past Rangers
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Cleveland shortstop Francisco Lindor atoned for a key error in a big way, smashing a ninth-inning grand slam to lift the Indians past the Texas Rangers 9-6 on Wednesday.
The win gave Cleveland their first 3-0 start since 1998. Texas is 0-3 for the first time since 2007 and 0-3 at home for the first time since 1991.
Cleveland trailed 6-4 going into the ninth but scored five times off Texas closer Sam Dyson (0-2).
Carlos Santana drew a bases-loaded walk to make it a one-run game before Lindor launched his first career slam to right to cap a two-homer night. He finished with three hits and a career-high five RBIs.
Cleveland had a 3-2 lead going into the bottom of the fifth before Texas took advantage of a Lindor error to score three times. Texas third baseman Joey Gallo beat Lindor to the bag on a grounder to short that could have ended the inning. Lindor then threw wildly to first, and two runs came around to score and put Texas up 4-3. Nomar Mazara added to the lead with a single to center.
The Indians had snapped a 2-2 tie in the top of the fifth on a sacrifice fly from catcher Roberto Perez.
Mazara gave the Rangers an early 2-0 lead on a deep two-run homer to in the first off Danny Salazar. Cleveland came back to tie the game in the top of the fourth on a two-run single from Jose Ramirez.
Cleveland got within a run in the sixth on a Lindor homer off Cole Hamels, but the Rangers got that run back in the seventh on a homer from Elvis Andrus.
Hamels allowed four runs (three earned) in six innings after starting the game with three perfect frames. Salazar struck out nine but gave up five runs (four earned) in 5 2/3 innings.
Shawn Armstrong (1-0), the fourth Cleveland pitcher, picked up his first major league win by striking out the only batter he faced. Bryan Shaw closed out the ninth for his first save of the season.
NOTES: Cleveland OF Michael Brantley was out of the starting lineup after starting the first two games as the Indians try to watch his playing time early after he played in just 11 games last season. He entered as a pinch hitter and went 0-for-2. ... OF Nomar Mazara has multiple hits in each of the first three games, the longest streak by a Texas player to start the season since Nelson Cruz had four to start the 2013 season. ... With his quality start, LHP Cole Hamels now has 23 since the start of the 2016 season, the sixth most in the American League.