Lindor blast lifts Indians over Yankees
Associated Press
NEW YORk
Growing up in Puerto Rico, Francisco Lindor knew a lot of New York Yankees’ fans, so he rooted for the Boston Red Sox.
On Sunday, the Cleveland Indians rookie did something he and many Red Sox fans have dreamed of.
Lindor took an eighth-inning fastball from New York’s Dellin Betances and blasted it into the right field stands as the Indians defeated New York 4-3 on Andy Pettitte Day in the Bronx.
CC Sabathia was pulled in the third inning with right knee pain. Carlos Santana also homered for the Indians.
Lindor’s blast was his second in as many days. It marked the first home run Betances (6-3) has allowed to a left-handed batter, a span of 302 hitters.
“I faced him yesterday and his fastball is great and his slider is very, very good,” Lindor said. “Every time you face a guy and see his pitches, it’s one thing to see them on the computer and it’s another thing actually seeing it live.”
Lindor watched two sliders from Betances before getting a fastball he could barrel.
Lindor also had three hits for the second consecutive day as Cleveland took three of four from New York and won the season series for the second consecutive year.
Before that, Carlos Beltran blooped a game-tying double in the seventh off reliever Bryan Shaw (2-2), bouncing the ball just fair down the left field line to score two.
The double spoiled a good effort from Trevor Bauer, who allowed two runs on two singles in 6 1/3 innings. Bauer struck out seven and walked a season-high six, throwing 109 pitches.
“He didn’t give up a lot of hits and competed really well,” manager Terry Francona said. “Most days, a lot of days, six walks will hurt you, but it didn’t. I thought he kept his composure, and I thought it was a good step forward for him.”
Santana hit a two-run homer off Sabathia in the first inning. The homer was the first Santana has hit off a left-hander this season.
“The ball jumped off his bat,” Francona said. “That swing is in there and we just haven’t seen it very much. Knowing Carlos, usually when this happens, he tends to get hot and boy, that would be great.”
Sabathia struggled with his command, falling behind the first two batters before Santana’s blast. He allowed four hits and walked a season high four batters.
Sabathia struck out Yan Gomes with a 91 mph fastball for the second out of the third. After the pitch, Sabathia stepped off the mound, visibly unhappy, and was visited by athletic trainer Steve Donohue and manager Joe Girardi, then left the game.