Indians beat Rockies 5-2 to snap 4-game skid
5/30/2014CLEVELAND — Corey Kluber struck out 12 in 7 1-3 innings to continue his dominant pitching in May, Asdrubal Cabrera’s two-run homer broke a fifth-inning tie and the Cleveland Indians beat the Colorado Rockies 5-2 on Friday night.
Kluber (6-3) gave up a two-run homer to Carlos Gonzalez in the fourth inning, but recorded his third double-figure strikeout game this season. He ends the month with a 4-0 record and a 2.09 ERA in six starts.
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Kluber, who struck out a career-high 13 on May 4 against the Chicago White Sox, finished the month with 60 strikeouts in 43 innings. The right-hander allowed five hits with one walk and was given a standing ovation by the crowd of 25,066 when he was pulled after retiring the first batter in the eighth.
The Indians snapped a four-game losing streak while the Rockies fell to 2-5 on their nine-game trip.
Colorado didn’t have a hit through three innings, but Corey Dickerson led off the fourth with a double and Gonzalez homered to right-center on an 0-1 pitch with one out.
Cleveland chased Juan Nicasio (5-3) with a four-run fifth. Michael Bourn’s single tied the game before Cabrera’s homer put Cleveland ahead. Lonnie Chisenhall, who drove in two runs, added an RBI double.
Kluber struck out the side in the third. He took control after Gonzalez’s homer in the fourth. Seven of the next nine outs were strikeouts and he got Charlie Culberson to bounce into a double play to end the seventh.
David Murphy led off the Indians’ fifth with a double and took third when center fielder Charlie Blackmon robbed Jesus Aguilar of an extra-base hit with a leaping grab at the fence. Bourn singled through a drawn-in infield to tie the game and Cabrera gave Cleveland the lead with a homer to right.
Cody Allen pitched a perfect ninth for his second save.
Gonzalez returned to the lineup after not starting Wednesday because of a sore right calf. Gonzalez fouled a pitch off his leg Tuesday and left the game, and was limited to pinch-hitting duties Wednesday. His home run snapped an 0-for-11 slump, but Colorado has 16 runs in the first seven games of the trip and is 5 for 51 with runners in scoring position.
The Rockies’ frustration boiled over in the sixth when Michael Cuddyer was called out on strikes by plate umpire John Tumpane. Cuddyer angrily argued the call before being pulled away. Rockies manager Walt Weiss continued the argument and was ejected for the first time in his managerial career.
Jason Kipnis’ second-inning single snapped an 0-for-15 slump. He returned Wednesday after missing 25 games with a strained right oblique.
NOTES: Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado (broken finger) visited doctors at the Cleveland Clinic, who confirmed the diagnosis of Colorado team doctors that he won’t need surgery. The plan is to let the finger heal on its own and there’s no timetable for his return. ... Indians 3B/C Carlos Santana (concussion) said he’s feeling better, but doesn’t know when he’ll resume physical activities. He was placed on the 7-day DL Tuesday. ... Cleveland RHP Zach McAllister (sore back) threw a simulated game Friday and is scheduled to throw on the side Sunday. ... Rockies LHP Franklin Morales faces RHP Trevor Bauer on Saturday.