CLEVELAND _ The Indians' offense had its best overall day of the season, but the bullpen wasn't able to hold a sizable lead as they split Saturday's double header with the Atlanta Braves, winning 8-4 and then losing 8-7.
In the day's first game, a six-run, two-out rally in the fifth was enough to support Corey Kluber in the Indians' 8-4 win.
The Indians (12-8) entered the fifth in a 2-2 tie before breaking the game open, all with two outs and Carlos Santana already on base. Greg Allen started the rally with an RBI double and was followed by Tyler Naquin's RBI single to make it 4-2. Max Moroff and Leonys Martin then each added RBI singles up the middle. After a passed ball brought in a run, Jason Kipnis capped the rally with an RBI single to left field, making it 8-2.
An inning earlier, Moroff hit a solo home run to right field off Braves starting pitcher Julio Teheran, his first of the season. He entered the day hitting only .077 primarily filling in for Jason Kipnis and Francisco Lindor, the latter returning to the team on Saturday. Lindor was left out of the first game but started the second game at shortstop.
Kluber (2-2) allowed four earned runs on five hits, walked two and struck out eight in seven innings. He recovered from a rough first inning _ a run and two walks _ until the seventh, when Brian McCann and Matt Joyce hit back-to-back home runs, making it 8-4.
In the second game, it was somewhat of a similar story until the ninth: the Indians used a five-run second to build a 7-0 lead, allowing Trevor Bauer and the bullpen to cruise. But, it all fell apart in the end.
With one out and the bases loaded in the second inning, Jose Ramirez singled home two runs, which included Lindor from second base. Lindor played with a brace around his left ankle. Earlier in the inning, he singled to notch his first hit of the year.
Carlos Santana followed with an RBI single to right field and Jake Bauers later doubled home two more runs, putting the Indians up 7-0.
Bauer turned in a strong outing, allowing two earned runs on three hits and two walks to go with 10 strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.
Then, a disaster for the Indians in the ninth. Trailing 7-3, the Braves loaded with the bases with one out to bring the tying run to the plate. Adam Cimber (1-1) struck out Ender Inciarte for the second out before Ozzie Albies doubled down the right-field line to make it 7-5. Cimber then walked Josh Donaldson to load the bases, leading to a lefty-lefty matchup between reliever Tyler Olson and Freddie Freeman.
Olson fell behind Freeman 3-0 and eventually walked him to score a run, cutting the lead to 7-6.
The Indians turned to Cody Anderson against Ronald Acuna Jr., who delivered the final blow, a two-out, two-run double to give the Braves (10-10) their first lead of the game.
Braves closer A.J. Minter earned the save in the ninth with a 1-2-3 inning.
