CLEVELAND _ Rookie starting pitcher Zach Plesac delivered in another difficult spot, as he tossed seven strong innings to lead the Indians over the New York Yankees, 5-2, Friday night at Progressive Field.
Plesac, making his third career start, limited the Yankees to two runs over seven innings, continuing his string of solid performances that began against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
The Yankees (39-23) took an early 2-0 lead before Plesac settled down long enough to allow the Indians offense time to respond. Former Indians prospect Clint Frazier in the second inning doubled home a run. An inning later, Plesac left a change-up over the heart of the plate, and Aaron Hicks drilled it for a solo home run.
From that point on, Plesac allowed only one more baserunner. He finished with two earned runs on six hits and one walk to go with five strikeouts in seven innings, bringing his season ERA to 1.86. Meanwhile, the Indians offense slowly began to chip away against Yankees starting pitcher Domingo German.
Jason Kipnis in the bottom of the fourth inning, with two runners on base, snapped an 0-for-21 skid with an RBI single to right field, cutting the lead to 2-1. An inning later, Tyler Naquin blasted a solo home run to right field to tie it 2-2.
Carlos Santana, the Indians' lone consistent offensive force since Opening Day, delivered the haymaker in the sixth. With a runner on, German threw a change-up over the outside part of the plate that Santana launched for a two-run home run, his team-leading 12th of the season.
The Indians (32-31) added an insurance run in the eighth. Francisco Lindor tripled off the wall in center field off Yankees reliever David Dale and later scored on Kipnis' sacrifice fly to center field, pushing the Indians' lead to 5-2.
Lindor, earlier, made a highlight-reel play, something that has been a norm recently. Ranging to his left, he made a diving stop, popped up to his feet and delivered the throw to first base to rob Frazier of a hit. After the play, all Lindor would do was laugh.
After Nick Wittgren delivered a 1-2-3 eighth inning, Brad Hand closed it out with his 19th save of the season. The win improved the Indians to 3-1 during this crucial homestand.
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