Rangers’ Lynn outduels Clevinger

Indians pitcher suffers loss, survives scare in first start since injury

Associated Press

Arlington, Texas

Lance Lynn had another quality start, Danny Santana homered and the Texas Rangers beat Cleveland 7-2 on Monday night to spoil Mike Clevinger’s return from the injured list.

Lynn (8-4) struck out nine without a walk and gave up one run over seven innings. The veteran right-hander, in his first season with Texas, has gone at least six innings in 10 consecutive starts, allowing three runs or fewer in the last eight.

Santana hit a two-run homer after Willie Calhoun’s two-out walk in the fourth. Clevinger was done after consecutive two-out walks in the fifth, with both of those scoring to make it 5-1 when Elvis Andrus doubled on reliever Tyler Clippard’s second pitch.

Clevinger (1-1) struck out seven and walked three in his first start since April 7. He threw 12 scoreless innings with 22 strikeouts his first two starts before missing more than two months because of a muscle strain in his upper back.

There was a concerning moment in the second inning when Clevinger was coming off the mound on a grounder. The right-hander appeared to immediately take pressure off his left leg and dropped to the ground after an initial awkward step. Clevinger stayed down momentarily while being checked on by manager Terry Francona and a trainer, then got up and threw a couple of warmup tosses.

Francisco Lindor and Oscar Mercado hit solo homers for Cleveland. Lindor’s 12th homer, in the fifth, was the only run off Lynn.

Santana singled in the sixth for his third consecutive multi-hit game. He then scored from second base on a wild pitch by Tyler Olson that hit the brick backstop and ricocheted toward the Rangers dugout on the first base side.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Indians: To clear a roster spot for Clevinger, LHP Josh Smith was optioned to Triple-A Columbus and RHP Corey Kluber was transferred from the 10-day to the 60-day injured list. Kluber has been cleared for strengthening activities, but it is still uncertain when he will resume throwing.

Rangers: OF Joey Gallo (left oblique strain), out since June 2, is set to go to the team’s spring training complex in Arizona today to continue his rehab. ... OF Hunter Pence (right groin strain) was put on the 10-day injured list, and Calhoun was activated from the IL.

UP NEXT

Indians: Rookie right-hander Zach Plesac (1-2, 2.92 ERA) in his last start, became the first Indians pitcher ever to allow homers to the first two batters of a home game.

Rangers: RHP Adrian Sampson (5-3) was without a big league victory before going 5-0 with a 3.19 ERA his last six games (three starts).