Carrasco’s strong start powers Indians

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Carlos Carrasco was on top of his game Friday night.

Cleveland’s right-hander struck out 11 while pitching scoreless ball into the eighth inning, and the Indians defeated the Miami Marlins 6-2.

“That’s what I’m looking for,” Carrasco said. “From pitch one to the last pitch, I was aggressive. With every pitch — fastball, slider, curveball, changeup — everything. The whole game.”

Carrasco (10-7) posted the 10th double-digit strikeout game of his career, three this season. He allowed six hits and walked one in 71/3 innings, leading first-place Cleveland to its fourth straight win.

Cleveland scored three times in the first and once in the second off Andrew Cashner (4-11). Abraham Almonte’s two-run double pushed the lead to 6-0 in the fifth.

J.T. Realmuto hit a two-run homer off Jeff Manship in the eighth for Miami, which has lost six of seven.

Carrasco has won three of his last four decisions but was hit hard in the loss, allowing seven runs and lasting only four innings against Texas last Saturday.

“I was disappointed in myself,” he said. “I went for five days working hard and tried to get my mind back the way I started the year.”

Indians manager Terry Francona said: “He had a good week of work and then he pitched really well tonight.”

Miami manager Don Mattingly was impressed with Carrasco’s performance.

“Their guy was really good and handcuffed us the whole night long. He made great pitches,” Mattingly said.

Cashner, who is 0-4 in six starts since being acquired from San Diego on July 29, allowed six runs, six hits and six walks in five innings. He was scratched from his previous turn because of a blister on his finger.

Cleveland took advantage of Cashner’s inability to find the strike zone in the first. The right-hander walked three in the inning, including Mike Napoli with the bases loaded.

Carlos Santana drew a leadoff walk. Jason Kipnis was ruled to have checked his swing on a 3-2 pitch, a call Mattingly disagreed with from the dugout. Francisco Lindor singled to load the bases — the only hit of the inning.

Napoli walked to force in a run. Jose Ramirez’s fielder’s choice and Lonnie Chisenhall’s groundout added two runs. Cashner threw 35 pitches in the inning.

Santana had a sacrifice fly in the second. Almonte’s double added two more for Cleveland, which began the night leading second-place Detroit by 41/2 games in the AL Central.

Miami remained three games out of the second wild-card spot in the NL.