CLEVELAND _ When it rains, it pours. It seems like the Detroit Tigers have been dealing with some flash flooding for quite some time, and it continued Tuesday night in the Indians' 8-0 win at Progressive Field.
And with the Twins falling, 3-2, to the New York Mets, the Indians pulled to within 5 games in the American League Central race.
Zach Plesac had his outing shortened by a rain delay, but he and the Indians' bullpen were stellar and nearly blanked the Tigers' offense. Plesac, who was called up from Triple-A prior to the game, threw three hitless innings with a walk and a strikeout. Tyler Clippard (who gave up the only hit in his two innings of work), Nick Goody (two hitless innings, three strikeouts) and Tyler Olson (two innings, two strikeouts) finished the job.
The Indians jumped all over Tigers starting pitcher Ryan Carpenter with a five-run second inning. Jason Kipnis doubled with one out and came home on Jake Bauers' RBI single to left field. After Tyler Naquin added a single of his own, Francisco Lindor scored both runners with a double off the glove of Tigers first baseman Brandon Dixon. The ball landed in foul territory but caromed off his glove while he was inside the baseline.
Already up 3-0, Oscar Mercado highlighted the inning by driving a two-run home run over the wall in right field for a home run, his third homer in the last two games.
An inning later, The Indians extended their lead to 7-0 via an RBI double off the bat of Jose Ramirez and an error by Carpenter that allowed Ramirez to score on a ground ball by Kipnis.
The rains then arrived and dumped heavy precipitation on Progressive Field, which led to a two-hour, seven-minute delay as the Indians (53-40) and Tigers (29-61) waited to resume with the game well in hand.
Naquin, in the sixth, added a solo home run to center field, his eighth of the season.
