(Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH -- Tribe outfielder Jake Bauers, who came into tonight's game hitting .155 in his previous 28 games, was red-hot. Bauers launched a no-doubt two-run blast in the eighth to complete the final part of the cycle, becoming the first Indian to hit for the cycle since Rajai Davis in the 2016 season. The Indians jumped out to a 5-3 lead on a three-run homer off of the bat of Leonys Martin and never looked back in the 13-4 rout of the Tigers.
The fourth inning was kept alive by a Harold Castro fielding error, and the Indians made the Tigers pay. Two runs came home on a fielding error in which Jose Ramirez hit a chopper to the Detroit second baseman, and the tribe followed up with three more runs. After batting thirteen men, the fourth inning finally came to an end, as the Indians had posted 10 runs on 10 hits through the first four innings.
Tigers' starter Ryan Carpenter was pulled with 0 outs and the bases loaded in the fourth and was relieved by Buck Farmer, who was then pounced by the Indians lineup. Carpenter was hit with the loss after giving up 6 earned runs through 3 full innings.
After giving up two earned runs early in the ballgame, Adam Plutko began to cruise. Plutko pitched 6 full innings, giving up 2 earned runs on 5 hits, striking out 6 tigers and walking one. After an impressive start, Plutko moves to 3-1 on the season.
Bauers wasn't the only one with a scorching hot bat tonight, Roberto Perez contributed 2 RBI in a 3 for 5 day. Jose Ramirez drove in 2 runs on two hits as he continues to try to pull out of his 5-month slump.
The tribe will look to stay hot as they will take on the Detroit Tigers on Saturday Afternoon. Shane Bieber will take the hill for the visiting tribe, facing off against Buck Farmer, as the Tigers will use the bullpen for the entirety of tomorrow's game. First pitch is set for 6:10 PM ET at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan.