Carrasco, Lindor lead Indians to 8th straight

Associated Press

DETROIT

When Carlos Carrasco shrugged off a rising pitch count and went back to the mound in the ninth inning, teammate Francisco Lindor was impressed.

“I was tired in the fifth,” Lindor said.

Carrasco and Lindor led the Cleveland Indians to their eighth straight win Saturday, when Carrasco pitched a four-hitter and Lindor hit two home runs in a 6-0 win over Detroit. It was the first career multihomer game for the 22-year-old Lindor, and Carrasco’s third major league shutout.

Carlos Santana and Yan Gomes also went deep for AL Central-leading Cleveland, which improved to 8-0 against the Tigers this year, outscoring them 51-17.

The Indians spoiled Anibal Sanchez’s return to the Detroit rotation. The right-hander allowed a homer to Santana on the game’s second pitch, and Lindor added another solo shot one out later.

Carrasco (3-2) struck out seven and walked one. He threw a season-high 117 pitches in his first shutout of the year.

Sanchez (4-8) made his first start since May 31 after being demoted to the bullpen for a bit. He allowed four runs and five hits in five innings.

Santana opened the scoring with his 16th homer of the season, a drive down the right-field line. Lindor’s homer later in the first cleared the wall in the same area near the foul pole.

Carrasco missed over a month because of a left hamstring strain before returning June 2. This was his fifth start back.

“I feel strong. I start doing my shoulder exercise,” he said. “It took me three starts to get back to my normal routine.”