Kipnis homers to help Tribe clinch series against Rangers

6/12/2013

ARLINGTON, Texas — Jason Kipnis had a home run among his three hits and the Cleveland Indians got a series-clinching 5-2 victory over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night.

A night after ending an eight-game losing streak, and a span of 12 losses in a row away from home, the Indians made it consecutive victories to clinch their first road series in a month.

They had gone 0-4-1 in series since taking two of three May 10-12 at Detroit, the only American League team with a better home record than Texas this season.

Mike Aviles also homered for Cleveland, which also won 5-2 on Tuesday after losing the series opener 6-3. The Indians get a day off before starting a nine-game homestand Friday against Washington.

Ubaldo Jimenez (5-4) allowed one run pitching into the sixth.

Rangers rookie right-hander Nick Tepesch (3-6) gave up five runs in five innings with five strikeouts.

The Indians went ahead to stay with two outs in the second when Jason Giambi was hit by a pitch and Aviles homered, his fourth this season, for a 2-0 lead.

An inning later, Michael Bourn had a leadoff infield hit and scored on Michael Brantley's single.

Leonys Martin scored both runs for Texas, now 19-10 at home.