Down 7 and missing Francona, Indians rally to top Texas 15-9
CLEVELAND (AP) - The Indians trailed by seven runs and were without manager Terry Francona by the fourth inning Monday night. Coming off a disheartening sweep to a division rival, Cleveland badly need a few runs.
They got them, and then they kept on going.
Francisco Lindor, Lonnie Chisenhall and Carlos Santana each had three RBIs to help Cleveland rally and beat the Texas Rangers 15-9 on Monday night after Francona left the game because he wasn't feeling well.
The Indians came back after trailing 9-2 in the fourth inning to avoid their first four-game losing streak since 2015.
"It's awesome," said Chisenhall, whose two-run single with the bases loaded in the sixth gave Cleveland the lead. "This is the best win of the year."
The Indians said Francona was evaluated by the team's medical staff and checked out fine. He experienced similar symptoms as when he left a game June 14, when he was taken to a hospital.
The team wouldn't say if Francona had been hospitalized again. An update is expected Tuesday.
"It's a genuine concern for not just me, but the whole staff and the team, as well," bench coach Brad Mills said. "I'm glad the doctors checked him out and we'll move down the road and hopefully we'll know something tomorrow."
Francona presented Rangers first baseman and former Indian Mike Napoli with his American League Championship ring before the game. Mills came out to fetch starter Carlos Carrasco in the fourth inning, the first sign the players had that Francona wasn't there.
"I know he's watching somehow and he's proud of what we were doing," Chisenhall said. "You always want him to feel good. His health is the most important thing."
The Indians scored a run in the fourth, four in the fifth, took the lead with five in the sixth and added three in the seventh.
Adrian Beltre, Elvis Andrus and Joey Gallo each homered off Cleveland starter Carlos Carrasco to help build Texas' lead, but then the Indians offense finally woke up. Cleveland had been shut out twice, went 1 for 23 with runners in scoring position and got swept over three games by the Minnesota Twins in its previous series.
Cleveland set a season high in runs, matched a season best with 19 hits and was 11 for 28 with runners in scoring position. Every starter except Kipnis had at least two hits.
The comeback moved the Indians back into a first place in the AL Central with a half-game lead over Minnesota.
Bryan Shaw (2-2) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings for the win. Tanner Scheppers (0-1) allowed all three batters he faced to reach the base.
"I think coming off the type of series we just came off of, any win would be a good win," Shaw said. "But for us to come back the way we did shows the drive that we have to win."
Andrus added a solo homer off Dan Otero in the fourth after his three-run shot in the second. Beltre had a three-run homer during a four-run first, and Gallo added a solo shot for his 20th of the season.
"That's one game that absolutely doesn't feel good," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "There is nothing more you can say than that."
Carrasco allowed eight runs - tying a career high - in 3 1/3 innings.
Cole Hamels, making his first start since April 26, allowed seven runs in 4 1/3 innings. The left-hander had been on the 10-day disabled list with a strained right oblique.
Napoli returned to Progressive Field for the first time since helping the Indians reach the World Series last season. He was 1 for 4 with three strikeouts.
Francona left a game two weeks ago against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Progressive Field. He underwent a series of tests and was released from the hospital a few hours later. Francona returned to work the following night.
The 57-year-old Francona missed a game last season in August after experiencing chest pains.
NOT A FAN FAVORITE
While the crowd cheered Napoli, Rangers catcher Jonathan Lucroy was booed every time he came to the plate. Lucroy vetoed a trade last July that would have sent him from the Brewers to the Indians.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rangers: LHP Martin Perez (broken right thumb) is eligible to come off the disabled list on July 3, but Banister said his return will be delayed.
Indians: OF Austin Jackson (left quad tightness) had tests Monday. A decision will be made Tuesday whether he has to go on the disabled list.
UP NEXT
Rangers: RHP Tyson Ross allowed seven runs over three innings in a 7-5
loss to Toronto on June 21.
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