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Santana’s 3-run shot ignites Tribe
Photo
Indians slugger Carlos Santana, right, celebrates with teammates Jason Kipnis and Michael Brantley after hitting a seventh-inning three-run home run off Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Jake McGee during Wednesday’s baseball game in St. Petersburg, Fla. The Indians scored five runs in the seventh to rally past the Rays, 10-6.
Associated Press
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.
Carlos Santana found his power stroke again at an opportune time.
Santana hit a three-run homer during a five-run seventh inning and the Cleveland Indians rallied for a 10-6 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night.
Shin-Soo Choo and Asdrubal Cabrera hit two-out singles off Kyle Farnsworth (0-2) before Jason Kipnis’ RBI single against Jake McGee tied it at 4. After Michael Brantley had a run-scoring single, Santana extended the lead to 8-4 with his first homer since May 15.
“It means a lot to him because I know that’s been weighing on him, especially the power drought that he’s had,” Cleveland manager Manny Acta said. “It’s hard on those guys. He must be feeling a lot better.”
Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon was ejected by home plate umpire Dan Iassogna after Kipnis’ game-tying hit for arguing balls and strikes. He thought the umpire missed a two-strike pitch on Kipnis.
“Dan Iassogna is a very good umpire ... he absolutely blew that call and that’s a very big play in tonight’s game,” Maddon said.
Kipnis and Santana added run-scoring singles in ninth as the Indians went ahead 10-5.
“We’re so much better an offensive club when Santana is contributing,” Acta said.
Cleveland starter Justin Masterson left trailing 4-3 and with the bases loaded in the fifth, but was bailed out when Esmil Rogers (1-0) entered and got two quick outs.
“That was a very big win for us, especially the way things started,” Acta said. “Rogers did a fantastic job. He’s the one who pretty much saved the day. He gave us an opportunity to comeback.”
Rogers struck out three and walked one over 1 2-3 scoreless innings.
Santana walked and Casey Kotchman was hit by a pitch, and both scored on Jack Hannahan’s two-out double in the fifth. Choo cut the deficit to 4-3 with an RBI single.
“It really came down pretty much to one play, when we hit Kotch with that pitch and then all of a sudden hang a changeup to Hannahan and then Choo’s ground ball up the middle that we could have caught or at least knocked down,” Maddon said.