Johnny Damon triples in Tribe’s victory over Texas

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Johnny Damon was signed to give the Cleveland Indians a bit of a jolt.

Turns out, the Indians’ young players have provided the 38-year-old outfielder with a lift, too.

Damon hit a two-run triple in his first home game for Cleveland and Jeanmar Gomez pitched seven strong innings to lead the Indians over the Texas Rangers 6-3 on Friday night.

“I love my role, which is to still contribute and play, but help my team develop, too,” Damon said. “It’s great to be with a team that’s hungry to win, hungry to get to a World Series, ready to go all-out every game. In just a couple days, these young guys have helped give me new life, too.”

Gomez (2-1), one of those youngsters at 24 years old, gave up seven hits and three runs as Cleveland won for the fourth time in five games. Texas has lost five of seven, but the two-time AL champions still lead the West Division.

“Gomez was terrific against such a great lineup,” Indians manager Manny Acta said.

Shin-Soo Choo and Jack Hannahan homered off Colby Lewis (3-1) to help Cleveland take an early lead.

Damon’s drive in the seventh off the wall in center was nearly caught by Josh Hamilton, who returned to the Rangers’ lineup after missing three games with a sore back.

Chris Perez pitched the ninth for his 10th consecutive save. He is perfect since blowing the save in the season opener April 5.

“Right now, he’s in a zone,” Acta said. “He’s going right after guys.”

The game ended with Choo making a leaping catch at the right-field wall to snare a drive off the bat of pinch-hitter Adrian Beltre with a runner on first.

Damon went 1 for 4, though Hamilton nearly made a sensational catch of his drive just as he crashed into the wall. Casey Kotchman and Hannahan scored as Damon got to third base and clapped his hands after putting Cleveland ahead 6-3.

“I was good to give us some insurance,” Damon said. “No lead is too big for that team. Fortunately, [Hamilton] didn’t make that play. I’ve seen him make that catch.”

Acta was impressed with Damon’s hustle around the bases for the standup triple.

“I think this guy was doing that before most of our guys signed a professional contract,” Acta said of Damon, who was a rookie in 1995. “He’s in tremendous shape.”

Texas manager Ron Washington second-guessed himself for letting Lewis face Damon with left-hander Robbie Ross warming up in the bullpen.

“Colby had gotten him out all day,” Washington said. “I was one batter late. I’ll take the blame for that.”

Damon admitted he wasn’t comfortable early against the right-hander.

“The first three times up, I had lazy swings,” Damon said after driving on 0-1 curveball 400 feet to center.

“I don’t think I had thrown one [curve] to him all day,” Lewis said.