Kluber extends scoreless streak

Staff report

GOODYEAR, Ariz.

Cleveland pitcher Corey Kluber continued his scoreless streak and Yan Gomes hit a home run for the second straight day in the Indians’ 4-2 win over the Rangers on Monday.

Gomes was bothered last season by a knee injury that cost him 37 games. This spring, he’s come out swinging, notching his third home run of the spring.

“Gomes is short and quick with his swing and feels good,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “He should he’s worked hard. It’s nice to see him have some success.”

A.J. Griffin, who has a fresh start with the Rangers after missing two seasons with reconstructive elbow surgery, gave up Gomes’ home run of the spring. Mike Napoli hit an RBI single.

“It is still early but Griffin threw the ball pretty well,” Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. “You can tell there’s pitch ability there. He’s not an over powering guy but with his mix of pitches, his fastball does play up.”

Griffin along with Nick Martinez, Chi Chi Gonzalez and Jeremy Guthrie are candidates for the fifth spot in the starting rotation.

For Texas, Prince Fielder had a single and double, while Bobby Wilson had two hits.

Coming into the game, Kluber had allowed three base runners in five scoreless. On Monday, the Rangers touched him for four hits and a walk, but Kluber pitched around two errors.

“There was traffic all game. It was really good for him,” Francona said. “Every inning he had to do something but he continued to execute pitches.”

Rangers’ pitcher Jimmy Reyes was hit by Jose Ramirez’s line drive and left the game with a bruised left arm.

Ramirez, who started in center for the first time, had two hits and a sacrifice fly.

“This is a tough-sun field but he saw the ball good and got some pretty good jumps,” Francona said. He’s very athletic and he’s had enough reps in the infield.”

Kluber had more base runners than usual. He has now logged nine innings without allowing a run.

“The first couple of innings, my mechanics were off a little bit,” Kluber said.