CLEVELAND _ Once the storm cleared, the Indians charged.
A fierce, swirling wall of rain hit Progressive Field in the seventh inning of Monday night's game with the Indians and Detroit Tigers still tied. After the tarp was removed, the rain moved on and the wind died down, the Indians quickly jumped on the Tigers' bullpen to put together a rally en route to an 8-6 win.
Outfielder Oscar Mercado quickly gave the Indians the lead by belting a solo home run, his second homer of the night, to left field off Tigers reliever Victor Alcantara. It was a career night for Mercado, who finished 3-for-5 with two homers, two RBI, two runs scored and a stolen bases.
Indians manager Terry Francona recently said bench coach Brad Mills spoke with Mercado about taking pride in doing the small things to help the team win, even during a slump. Hitting two home runs is pretty helpful in its own right. Mercado also went yard in the fifth inning.
Now leading 6-5, Carlos Santana and Jordan Luplow each singled before Jose Ramirez doubled to right field to score them both and put the Indians (52-40) on top 8-5.
Brad Hand worked the ninth, and the Tigers (29-60) gave him a bit of a rocky inning. Jordy Mercer, hitting in the No. 9 spot for the Tigers, drilled a solo home run off Hand to center field, as he joined Mercado as hitters with a multi-home-run game Monday night. Victor Reyes followed Mercer's home run with a single to bring the tying run to the plate with nobody out.
But from there, Hand returned to form to earn his 25th save of the season, retiring Harold Castro and striking out Miguel Cabrera and Nicholas Castellanos.
Earlier, Mike Freeman _ in the game to give Jason Kipnis a day off _ doubled the benefit of his being in the lineup by driving a ball over the 19-foot wall in left field for a two-run home run in the second inning off Tigers starter Daniel Norris. In the sixth inning, with the Indians trailing 5-3, Tyler Naquin added a two-run double to left field to score Roberto Perez and Freeman after both singled.
The surge of offense covered up a poor outing from Adam Plutko, who struggled to the tune of five runs on seven hits and one strikeout in 5 1/3 innings. He also allowed home runs to Christin Stewart, Mercer and Jeimer Candelario.
