Minor strikes out 7 in 7 innings, Rangers beat Indians 1-0
CLEVELAND (AP) - All-Star Mike Minor struck out seven over seven innings, Nomar Mazara drove in Elvis Andrus with a sacrifice fly in the fourth and the Texas Rangers beat the Cleveland Indians 1-0 Monday night.
Minor (10-6) allowed seven hits and walked one as Texas won its fifth straight. The left-hander is 3-0 in eight career appearances against Cleveland, giving up a single run in 23 1/3 innings.
Andrus started the fourth with a triple, coming home a batter later when Mazara flew out to short center. He easily beat the bouncing throw home from rookie Oscar Mercado.
Jesse Chavez worked a 1-2-3 eighth and José Leclerc pitched the ninth for his seventh save, stranding José Ramírez at third base after his leadoff double off the chalk in right. Leclerc retired Tyler Naquin, Jason Kipnis and Franmil Reyes to end the threat.
The Indians ended a three-game winning streak and fell to 4-3 on their nine-game homestand. Cleveland is 37-16 since June 4 and entered the day three games behind AL Central-leading Minnesota.
Indians starter Aaron Civale (1-1), recalled from Triple-A Columbus before the game, allowed a run in six innings and struck out seven in his second big league appearance. The right-hander tossed six scoreless innings against Detroit on June 22.
Civale threw 89 pitches and retired the final nine hitters he faced after Andrus' triple. Andrus went 2 for 4, raising his average to .370 in 72 games against Cleveland.
Indians right fielder Yasiel Puig, acquired from Cincinnati at the trade deadline, went 2 for 4 and grounded into a double play.
Reyes struck out in his first two at-bats, giving him six whiffs in a row dating to Sunday. Jordan Luplow exited with a right hamstring cramp after stealing third in the seventh, when Cleveland had runners on first and third, but failed to score.
COOKIE MONSTER
Indians RHP Carlos Carrasco, who was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia on June 2, is scheduled to throw bullpen sessions Wednesday and Saturday. "I think we all hope he can come back and pitch for us, but saying anything else isn't fair to him," manager Terry Francona said.
CHANGE OF PLANS
Rangers 3B Isiah Kiner-Falefa started at the spot for the third time in four days, which will be his primary job going forward. Kiner-Falefa exclusively played catcher prior to Friday. "We're thinking he will catch once every 10 days," manager Chris Woodward said. "We don't want to abandon it because it's nice to have a third catcher."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rangers: RHP Shawn Kelley (right biceps soreness) was slated to throw live batting practice Monday for Triple-A Nashville. If all goes well, the closer will join the team in Cleveland to be evaluated Tuesday. Kelley was placed on the injured list on July 22.
Indians: RHP Dan Otero (right shoulder soreness), who has been on the injured list since May 31, will begin a minor league rehabilitation assignment Tuesday at Triple-A Columbus. He has appeared in 20 games, posting a 4.56 ERA without a decision.
UP NEXT
Rangers: RHP Ariel Jurado (6-6, 4.92 ERA) will start on six days rest in his first career outing against Cleveland. He went 1-3 with a 6.99 ERA in six July appearances.
Indians: RHP Zach Plesac (6-3, 3.41 ERA) has won three straight starts and leads AL rookies with a .215 opponent batting average. He is 4-1 with a 3.51 ERA at home.
