CLEVELAND (AP) — Aaron Civale allowed just three hits while dominating Detroit over 7 2/3 innings and was backed by five home runs, including Jordan Luplow’s three-run shot, as the Cleveland Indians pounded the Tigers 11-3 on Saturday night.
Luplow narrowly missed a second three-run homer, settling for a two-run double to finish with a career-high five RBIs.
Civale (2-0), who beat the Tigers in his season debut a week ago, continued a run of strong starting pitching for Cleveland, whose rotation has a 2.60 ERA through seven games. The right-hander gave up two singles and faced the minimum through six innings before Robbie Grossman homered in the seventh.
Civale didn’t issue a walk and struck out six before manager Terry Francona replaced him in the eighth after 90 pitches.
“He pitched really well,” Francona said. “He threw his breaking ball for lead strikes. He elevated his fastball. He threw a good changeup. Kind of like (Zach) Plesac last night, they had to respect three different pitches and three different speeds.”
Jeimer Candelario hit a two-run homer in the ninth for Detroit.
Luplow’s 432-foot shot to straightaway center with two outs in the fourth off rookie Tarik Skubal (0-1) put the Indians ahead 6-0.
Franmil Reyes hit his third homer in two days, Roberto Pérez and Andrés Giménez each added a two-run homer and César Hernández had a solo shot for the Indians, who will try to complete a three-game series sweep Sunday.
The Indians have homered nine times in their past three games. They’re 4-0 when hitting more than one homer, and their 14 homers in the first seven games are the most by a Cleveland team since the 1997 Indians hit 15.
After breaking down his own performance, Civale tipped his cap to Cleveland’s offense.
“One more thing,” Civale…
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