Kipnis homers twice in Indians rout of Yankees
CLEVELAND _ The Cleveland Indians hit five home runs, two by Jason Kipnis, and Corey Kluber pitched eight strong innings in a 10-2 rout of the New York Yankees Friday night at Progressive Field.
In addition to the two homers by Kipnis, Cleveland also got home runs from Carlos Santana, Lonnie Chisenhall and Mike Napoli, the five home runs being a season high for the streaking AL Central leaders.
Since June 17 the Indians are 17-4, including a team-record 14-game winning streak that helped them separate from the rest of the division.
Kluber (9-8), who was making his last start prior to his first trip to the All-Star game, gave up one run on five hits, with eight strikeouts and no walks. He didn't allow a run until Brian McCann homered leading off the seventh inning and in the first six innings Kluber held New York scoreless without a runner reaching third base.
Rookie Chad Green (1-2) started for New York and allowed seven runs and five hits in 4 1/3 innings.
Cleveland led 4-0 after the first inning as Santana and Kipnis hit back-to-back to home runs before an out was recorded. Lonnie Chisenhall added a two-run shot in the first and Kluber took it from there.
Leading 8-0 after five, the Indians added a couple of late runs to pad their margin on a groundout by Yan Gomes in the sixth and Kipnis' 14th home run of the season in the seventh off Anthony Swarzak.
New York s other run was a RBI double by McCann in the ninth off Joe Colon, making his major league debut. Carlos Beltran doubled and scored on a double by McCann.
Santana led off the game when he belted a 3-1 pitch into the seats in right field for his 20th home run in his 315th at-bat. Last year Santana hit 19 home runs in 551 at bats.
Kipnis followed Santana's homer with a drive over the center-field wall for his 13th home run. Francisco Lindor drew a walk and Green seemed to settle down when he struck out Mike Napoli and retired Jose Ramirez on a fly out.
Chisenhall hit a towering fly ball to right field that carried into the seats for his sixth home run, and the Indians had a 4-0 lead.
Green retired the side in order in the second inning, but the Indians extended their lead in the third. With one out Lindor walked, and Napoli walloped a 3-2 pitch into the last row of the bleachers above the left-field wall, a drive estimated at 462 feet. It was Napoli's 18th home run, and it gave Cleveland a 6-0 lead.
Richard Bleier relieved Green and Cleveland added two more runs on Lindor's double off the center field wall and Napoli's single up the middle.
NOTES: Indians OF Michael Brantley (right shoulder surgery) is eligible to come off the disabled list Saturday, but that won't happen. Brantley has taken batting practice the last few days but still has to go out on a minor league rehab assignment, which hasn't been scheduled yet. ... Indians INF Michael Martinez has been traded to Boston for cash. Martinez was designated for assignment on July 2. ... Yankees RHP Dellin Betances, LHP Andrew Miller and LHP Aroldis Chapman have combined for a 2.18 ERA with 177 strikeouts and 19 walks in 103 innings. ... Yankees OF Jacoby Ellsbury hit in the No. 2 spot in the order for the first time this season on Friday. Ellsbury had batted in the leadoff spot in the previous 70 games he started.