CLEVELAND _ Shane Bieber delivered his second consecutive gem and the Indians launched three home runs, including a grand slam by Yonder Alonso, in a 10-0 win over the Detroit Tigers Friday night at Progressive Field.
Bieber, in his third career major-league start, put together the best of the three thus far. He tossed seven scoreless innings, allowing only four hits and a walk and striking out nine, a career high. It was the second consecutive start in which he pitched at least 52/3 innings, gave up no more than one run and struck out at least seven hitters.
Bieber (2-0), who lowered his ERA to 2.45, also became the first Indians pitcher since Luis Tiant in 1964 to record at least six strikeouts in his first three starts.
Francisco Lindor provided the only offense Bieber would need in the third inning, and the Indians continued to pile on from there. Facing Tigers starting pitcher Mike Fiers (5-4), Lindor received a fastball down the middle and crushed it for his 17th home run of the season, a solo shot to right field.
An inning later, Edwin Encarnacion hit his 17th home run of the season, this one a two-run shot to the Home Run Porch to give the Indians a 3-0 lead. Encarnacion and Lindor are tied for second on the club in home runs, trailing Jose Ramirez's 22.
Alonso delivered the knockout punch in the seventh inning against Tigers reliever Johnny Barbato. With the bases loaded and the Indians up 5-0, Alonso smashed a grand slam to center field, erasing any doubt for a home crowd that waited nearly two hours for the game's first pitch, which was delayed to 8:51 p.m. because of rain. It was Alonso's 12th home run this season, surpassing Michael Brantley for third on the team.
In the fifth, Brantley doubled home Tyler Naquin, who reached base on a strikeout that got by Tigers catcher James McCann. Encarnacion also added an RBI single prior to Alonso's grand slam.
The Indians (41-33) reached double digits in the eighth with Warwick Saupold on the mound. Jason Kipnis doubled to left, advanced to third on a groundout and scored when Tigers second baseman Niko Goodrum booted a ground ball by Brandon Guyer for an error.
Ramirez put together a four-walk game, the first of his career, to extend his career-best 29-game on-base streak and also scored two runs.
After Bieber's departure, Zach McAllister and George Kontos each pitched scoreless innings.
