Tribe breaks out with five homers

Associated Press

CHICAGO

Jordan Luplow and the Cleveland Indians’ anemic offense once again found the tonic they needed in Manny Banuelos and the Chicago White Sox.

Luplow hit two of Cleveland’s five homers, Carlos Carrasco cruised through seven innings and the Indians pounded the White Sox 9-0 on Tuesday.

Roberto Perez, Jake Bauers and Jose Ramirez also went deep as the light-hitting Indians muscled up against Banuelos and Josh Osich to end Chicago’s three-game winning streak.

The 25-year-old Luplow has hit all four of his homers this season against Chicago and three off Banuelos. His previous two drives against the White Sox left-hander came in a rain-shortened 5-0 win in Cleveland last Thursday. Luplow hit six home runs in brief looks the past two years with Pittsburgh.

“I don’t know what it is, honestly,” said Luplow of his success against Chicago and Banuelos. “It’s a positive sign for our team that we can swing the bats, as long as we can stay consistent with it.”

The Indians could use a kick-start. Cleveland entered hitting just .219, tied with Toronto for worst in the American League. The Indians also came in with only 36 home runs in 40 games, second lowest in the league and fourth lowest in the majors.

“We’ve been struggling a little bit, but it’s in there,” Luplow said. “We have a long way to go. I think this is something we can build off.”

Carrasco (4-3) scattered six singles and struck out six, while walking none, in his second straight solid start. Oliver Perez, Dan Otero and A.J. Cole combined to complete the seven-hitter.

Banuelos (2-3) was roughed up for the third straight outing. The left-hander yielded five runs on four hits and three walks before leaving the game with none out in the fifth with a left shoulder strain.

Perez hit his fifth home run for a 1-0 lead in the third. Luplow’s line drive barely cleared the fence in right-center in the fourth to make it 3-0.

The Indians added three more runs in the fifth.

Bauers led off with a homer and Perez then walked, prompting manager Rick Renteria and a trainer to visit the mound. Banuelos walked off with the trainer and Osich entered.

“He was just shaking his arm around a lot and something didn’t seem right,” Renteria said.

“He said he felt something — there was some soreness there — so we took him out.”