Indians 6, Orioles 0
Carlos Santana belted a three-run homer among two hits and Carlos Carrasco allowed only three hits over seven dominant innings as Cleveland defeated visiting Baltimore for the second straight night.
Michael Brantley launched a two-run shot while Jose Ramirez added an RBI single and scored twice for the Indians, who moved within 4 ½ games of the American League’s second wild-card spot. Carrasco (5-4) struck out five and did not walk a batter to post his second straight victory since returning to the starting rotation.
Ubaldo Jimenez (4-9) was charged with six runs on five hits and three walks over 4 1/3 innings against his former team. The Orioles saw a season-high eight-series winning streak come to an end and had their lead in the AL East trimmed to 6 1/2 games.
Michael Bourn and Ramirez walked to start the first inning and trotted home when Santana crushed his 21st homer to center field with one out for a 3-0 lead. Chris Dickerson doubled to lead off the fifth and scored when Ramirez sliced a single to left before Brantley lined his 18th home run into the right-field seats.
Carrasco, who tossed five scoreless innings to beat the New York Yankees last Sunday, retired the final 15 batters he faced and threw only 79 pitches – 57 for strikes. C.C. Lee, Nick Hagadone and Bryan Shaw got the final six outs as Cleveland registered its ninth shutout of the season.
GAME NOTEBOOK: CF Bourn (hamstring) returned to Cleveland's lineup for the first time since July 5, going 0-for-2 with a run scored, a walk and a sacrifice. … Baltimore 1B Chris Davis went 0-for-3 and is hitless with seven strikeouts in 11 at-bats over the last three games. … The Indians are expected to recall RHP Danny Salazar to start Sunday’s game in place of LHP T.J. House, who likely will move to the bullpen.