One bad inning costs Salazar, Indians
Associated Press
CLEVELAND
Danny Salazar took responsibility for the bad inning that cost him Wednesday night’s game.
Salazar held the Seattle Mariners to three hits in seven innings, but Norichika Aoki’s two-run triple in the second led to a 2-1 loss for the Cleveland Indians.
Adam Lind singled and Chris Iannetta walked to start the second. Salazar (2-1) retired the next two batters before Aoki sent a hard grounder past first baseman Mike Napoli that rolled into the corner to score both runners.
“That was my fault,” Salazar said. “I got in trouble and then I gave up that triple. I tried to go inside. I think I have to give [him] credit.”
Salazar didn’t allow a hit after Aoki. He retired 11 consecutive batters and 16 of the last 18 he faced.
“It makes you feel bad, but at the same time you’re in the game and you keep battling,” Salazar said.
Salazar, who struck out seven, has a 1.47 ERA over his three starts, including 23 strikeouts.
“He’s working hard, his routines are good, he’s going to be OK,” Indians manager Terry Francona said.
Cleveland finished with just four hits, three coming off Seattle starter Taijuan Walker (1-0), who has defeated the Indians in each of his three career starts against them.
The only run the Indians scored against Walker was unearned, thanks to a fielding error from Lind at first base in the third inning.
Juan Uribe led off the third with a double, but was caught in a rundown and tagged out trying for third on Tyler Naquin’s ground ball to the mound.
Naquin took third when Lind was charged with an error after he couldn’t handle Jose Ramirez’s ground ball near the bag at first. Kipnis’ flyball to center scored Naquin.
Walker struck out six, hit one and didn’t walk a batter in six innings.
“Outstanding pitching both sides tonight,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “We certainly had our hands full with Salazar. I tip my hat to Taijuan Walker, what a great outing. Really stepped up in a game that we really had no room for error.”
Uribe drew a two-out walk in the seventh, but pinch-runner Rajai Davis was caught leaning off first base on an attempted stolen base and was tagged out in a rundown.
Naquin singled to start the eighth, but Ramirez’s sacrifice attempt was fielded by pitcher Joaquin Benoit, who threw to second for the force.
Ramirez took second on a wild pitch but Kipnis flied out and Francisco Lindor grounded out.
Steve Cishek pitched a perfect ninth to earn his second save of the season.
Indians outfielder Lonnie Chisenhall was 0 for 3 in his season debut after being activated from the 15-day disabled list before the game. Chisenhall hurt his left wrist in spring training.