(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
NEW YORK CITY, NY -- Mike Clevinger was lights out in a weekend series finale against the Bronx Bombers. The hard throwing right hander struck out ten batters over five full innings, giving up zero earned runs in an 8-4 victory over the Yankees.
Tribe utility man Mike Freeman was called upon Sunday afternoon, and he delivered in a big way. Freeman got the Indians on the board early with a 3-run blast in the second inning, and ripped two doubles as he filled in for Jose Ramirez. Oscar Mercado, who has been struggling at the plate of late, went 3-3 with with a homer and three RBI's.
Oscar Mercado blew the game wide-open in the eighth inning with a 2-run blast that put the Indians ahead 8-2. The tribe looked to Brad Hand to shut down the Yankees in the ninth. Hand, coming off of six days rest, struggled to slow down the Yankees lineup. DJ LeMahieu ripped an RBI single to left field, scoring Gleyber Torres. Yankees' slugger Aaron Judge followed up the RBI single with a hard hit RBI double to deep left field, driving in one run to cut the tribe lead to four. Indians' closer Brad Hand struck out Didi Gregorius with back-to-back sliders, and forced Gio Urshela to fly out to left field to close out the game.
Indians' starter Mike Clevinger (8-2) limited the Yankees to just three hits as he has now won seven straight decisions. Former first round pick of the Cleveland Indians, C.C. Sabathia only lasted three innings, allowing four runs and four hits while walking three batters and striking out five.
After twenty consecutive games, the Cleveland Indians will have a much deserved day off on Monday, before taking on the red-hot New York Metropolitans in a three-game series. Shane Bieber will be matched up against New York left hander Steven Matz on Tuesday evening. First pitch is set for 7:10 pm ET at Citi Field in Queens, New York. Check out highlights from today's game below!