Indians 7, Yankees 3
NEW YORK -- Right-hander Carlos Carrasco struck out 11 in 6 2/3 outstanding innings Friday night, leading the Cleveland Indians to a 7-3 victory over the New York Yankees.
Left fielder Michael Brantley had a pair of RBI singles, and first baseman Carlos Santana homered and added a run-scoring groundout, but Carrasco was the star of Cleveland's fifth win in six meetings against the Yankees.
Carrasco (12-9) extended his scoreless innings streak at Yankee Stadium to 15 2/3 innings before allowing a two-out single to rookie first baseman Greg Bird in the fourth. It was one of few mistakes he made all night. He gave up five hits, one walk and one run while improving to 8-3 in 13 road games this season.
It also was Carrasco's third effective outing in as many career starts in New York. His last one was Aug. 10, 2014, when he allowed two hits in five scoreless innings for his first win as a starting pitcher since June 29, 2011.
Since rejoining Cleveland's rotation, Carrasco is 16-12 with a 2.85 ERA in 35 starts, and Friday was among his best of the year.
He struck out the side twice, getting nine strikeouts on swinging strike threes while using his breaking pitches for eight. He fanned New York designated hitter Alex Rodriguez twice, getting him on a changeup in the first and a curveball in the fourth.
Carrasco reached double-digit strikeouts for the third time this season by getting right fielder Carlos Beltran on a check swing on his breaking ball for the first out of the seventh. When third base umpire Dan Iassogna ruled it was a swing, Beltran slammed his bat at the dirt, and manager Joe Girardi considered coming out to argue.
After Beltran's strikeout, Carrasco fanned Bird for a second time before allowing consecutive singles to pinch hitter Jacoby Ellsbury and second baseman Stephen Drew, ending his night at 108 pitches.
Once Carrasco exited, the Indians staggered in the eighth before adding three insurance runs in the ninth.
Rodriguez had an RBI single with no outs in the eighth against Zach McAllister, and Bird reached on an error when his ground ball went under second baseman Jose Ramirez's glove, allowing third baseman Chase Headley to score.
Cleveland closer Cody Allen entered and issued a walk to load the bases, but he got Drew on a flyout to preserve the Indians' one-run lead.
After the Indians added runs on Brantley's single, Santana's groundout and a run-scoring double by right fielder Jerry Sands, Allen recorded his 25th save in 28 opportunities.
While Carrasco was controlling things from the mound, the Indians gradually built a lead off Masahiro Tanaka.
Shortstop Francisco Lindor had an RBI single in the third and reached on an error by Yankees shortstop Brendan Ryan in the fifth. Santana slugged his 14th home run in the sixth off Yankees right-hander Masahiro Tanaka (9-6). Brantley added a run-scoring single to give Cleveland a 4-1 lead with one out in the seventh.
Tanaka lasted six-plus innings, allowing four runs (three earned) and seven hits.
NOTES: New York 1B Mark Teixeira (bone bruise, right leg) missed his fourth consecutive game. Manager Joe Girardi said Teixeira did some activity on a treadmill Thursday but didn't expect him to play this weekend. ... Michael Brantley returned to left field for the Indians after making four straight starts at DH while recovering from a shoulder injury. ... Indians RHP Cody Anderson (strained left oblique) threw about 60 pitches in a two-inning simulated game and could begin a rehab assignment next week. ... New York CF Jacoby Ellsbury had the night off, but Girardi said it was not related to an injury. ... Both teams had former players named to the Latino Baseball Hall of Fame. LHP Jesse Orosco, RHP Orlando Hernandez and SS Omar Vizquel were announced as inductees.