The Indians on Aug. 1 scored 11 runs on 14 hits.
Then came the sixth inning.
For a team that said goodbye to two traded teammates in the previous two days, the Indians could use a laugher, and, on Aug. 1, they got one as the Tribe walloped the Texas Rangers, 12-2.
Michael Brantley had three hits – in the first four innings – and David Murphy had four hits as the Indians exploded for 16 hits in a game that was essentially over after the Indians scored six runs in the fifth inning.
‘We haven’t had many games like that,’ said Manager Terry Francona. ‘We’ve had so many close games, it’s nice to play one where we have some wiggle room, be able to get some guys some rest and not have all those stressful innings to pitch.’
Danny Salazar, throwing 98 mph in the first inning, pitched six innings, giving up one unearned run on four hits, with four strikeouts and three walks to get the win. He is 4-4. In three starts since being recalled from Triple-A Columbus, he is 3-0 with a 2.00 ERA, and the Indians have outscored the opposition in those three games, 30-7.
‘What I really liked about Danny tonight is that right from the get go he was throwing his best stuff,’ said Francona. ‘When he feels good physically he has the ability to be a really good pitcher.’
The Indians pounded large lumps on the earned run average of Texas starter Jerome Williams (1-1), who pitched four innings and gave up 10 runs on 13 hits and three walks. The Indians scored in five of the first six innings.
Lonnie Chisenhall, who went 5-for-5 with three home runs and an Indians record nine RBI in his last game against Texas on June 9, was 2-for-4 with another home run and an RBI on Aug. 1. In his last two games against the Rangers Chisenhall is 7-for-10 with four home runs and 10 RBI, and the Indians in those two games have out-scored Texas 29-8.
In five games against Texas this year, Chisenhall is hitting .545 (12-for-22) with four home runs and 14 RBI.
Murphy went 4-for-4 against his former teammates and is now hitting .526 (10-for-19) against Texas this season.
‘Murph just shows up and give you an honest effort every day,’ said Francona.
Brantley’s RBI double gave the Indians a 1-0 lead in the first inning and the Indians scored two more in the third to make it 3-0. RBI singles by Mike Aviles and Brantley in the fourth inning made it 5-0.
‘Finally, somebody wasn’t standing where Brantley hit it tonight,’ said Francona.
Texas scored an unearned run in the fifth to cut it to 5-1, and then the Indians blew it open with their monster bottom of the fifth.
Carlos Santana led off with a walk, and then singles by Chisenhall and Nick Swisher loaded the bases with no outs. Yan Gomes singled home Santana and Murphy doubled to right field, scoring Chisenhall and Swisher to make it 8-1.
After Gomes scored on a wild pitch, Jason Kipnis walked, and a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third. Aviles followed with a single, scoring Murphy and Kipnis to make it 11-1.
‘The runs were nice,’ said Salazar. ‘I think it puts a little pressure on the other team. After that I just tried to keep the ball down.’
Chisehnall added more window dressing in the sixth inning with a home run off Texas rookie Phil Klein, who was making his major-league debut and, unfortunately for him, gave up a home run to the first major-league hitter he saw.
Francona used the second half of the game to get some playing time for some of his bench players. Kipnis, Brantley and Gomes were all removed from the game after the sixth inning.
