Tribe’s Clevinger shuts out O’s

Associated Press

BALTIMORE

Mike Clevinger is proving to be a worthy member of the Cleveland Indians’ formidable rotation.

Clevinger pitched a two-hitter in his first career complete game, and the Indians hit three solo homers off Chris Tillman in a 4-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday.

Jose Ramirez went 3 for 4 with his team-leading fifth home run. Yan Gomes and Yonder Alonso also went deep for Cleveland, which came into the game ranked second-to-last in the AL in runs and last in batting average.

Clevinger (2-0) hardly needed the offensive support. Pitching on seven days’ rest, the right-hander struck out three, walked two and allowed only one runner past first base.

It was an outstanding effort, one that fits nicely within a starting staff that includes 2017 Cy Young winner Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer (who won 17 games last year) and unbeaten Carlos Carrasco.

“Metaphorically, if you’re in class and everyone else in the class is making 90 on the test, and you’re making 60s all the time, how is that going to feel?” Clevinger said. “So if eventually you can get up to 80, you’re going to be doing pretty good.”

He certainly deserved an “A” for this performance.

“Tell you what, that was really fun to watch,” manager Terry Francona said. “He’s a young pitcher who’s getting better.”

The only two hits Clevinger allowed in his 35th career start were singles by Manny Machado in the fourth inning and Chance Sisco in the fifth.

His previous longest outing was 71/3 innings, earlier this month against Kansas City.

VALLEY CONNECTION

Orioles left-hander Tanner Scott, a Howland High School graduate, pitched two scoreless innings Saturday. The 23-year-old Scott, a 2012 Howland graduate, was called up fromTriple-A Norfolk on Friday.

This is Scott’s second stint with Baltimore this season. Earlier this month, he recorded five outs in a game against the New York Yankees.