Indians beat Mariners 3-1 behind Bauer for 6th straight
SEATTLE (AP) - When a team is on a hot streak, things just seem to fall into place. That's exactly what happened for the Cleveland Indians in their 3-1 win over the Seattle Mariners on Monday night.
Trevor Bauer pitched 7 1/3 strong innings and Rajai Davis homered to lead Cleveland to its sixth straight victory. It's the longest winning streak for the Indians since Aug. 25-31, and they extended their AL Central lead over Kansas City to 2 1/2 games.
After the Mariners jumped ahead 1-0 in the third on Nori Aoki's RBI single, the Indians rallied for two unearned runs in the fourth. Seattle starter James Paxton yielded a one-out single to Carlos Santana followed by Jose Ramirez's double into the left-field corner.
Santana, waved home, was beaten by the relay throw but catcher Chris Iannetta dropped it for an error.
"I thought it was a very good send," Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. "It probably would have been an out. But you had a guy throwing 99 mph. You take your chances when you get them."
Ramirez, who advanced to third on the throw, scored on Juan Uribe's sacrifice fly.
"I just missed it. I just made an error," Iannetta said. "I mean, you're going to make errors. I don't want to do it. I pride myself on my defense."
Mariners manager Scott Servais knew all too well it was a pivotal play.
"Obviously, if we'd hung onto that one we would have got him at the plate," Servais said. "It would have been nice to have that one, obviously. It was a big play in the game."
Bauer (4-2) gave up one run and scattered five hits. He walked one and struck out 10 to earn his first victory since May 10.
Bryan Shaw got the final two outs in the eighth and Cody Allen worked the ninth for his 12th save in 13 opportunities.
"Trevor Bauer always has that edge," Servais said. "That's just how he is. He had all four pitches working tonight. That was the key - it wasn't just two."
Paxton (0-2) took the loss for the Mariners, who have dropped four straight. He allowed three runs - one earned - and five hits in six innings. He walked one and struck out 10.
Davis hit his sixth home run in the fifth.
Robinson Cano went 0 for 4, ending his on-base streak at a career-best 34 games.
Mariners reliever Edwin Diaz, called up from Triple-A Tacoma on Saturday, made his major league debut in the seventh. He retired the side in order.
INFIELDER FOR OUTFIELDER
The Mariners, carrying 12 pitchers, juggled their thin position-player personnel by adding an infielder, shortstop Ketel Marte off the DL, and returning an outfielder, Stefen Romero, to Triple-A. "With the four right-hand starters and a prominent right-hand bullpen," Servais said, "there was not a great opportunity (for right-hand-hitting Romero) to get any starts or impact the game much."
ROTATION JUGGLING
The Indians are tweaking their rotation a bit this week to help rest some nagging injuries. RHP Cody Anderson will be recalled from the minors to start Tuesday and give RHP Carlos Carrasco, who came off the disabled list last Thursday, an extra day. Carrasco will pitch Wednesday, replacing RHP Danny Salazar, who has some shoulder fatigue. Salazar will skip his turn and is scheduled to return Sunday at the Los Angeles Angels.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Indians: RHP Joba Chamberlain (intercostal strain), eligible to return from the disabled list Monday, will be activated Wednesday. Anderson will be optioned back to the minors after his start on Tuesday.
Mariners: OF Leonys Martin (strained left hamstring) ran the bases before the game and appears on schedule to return Friday. ... RHP Felix Hernandez (strained right calf) has not started running yet. He is eligible to come off the disabled list Saturday.
UP NEXT
Indians: Anderson (1-3, 6.81 ERA) had his best outing - and only win - of the season in his previous start May 23. He lasted seven innings, allowing five hits, one run and no walks with nine strikeouts in a 5-1 victory over the White Sox.
Mariners: LHP Wade Miley (5-2, 5.84) gave up 12 hits and nine runs Thursday to San Diego but ended up with a no-decision when the Mariners rallied for a 16-13 victory. Miley has made two career starts against Cleveland. He is 0-1 with an 8.22 ERA.