ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Corey Kluber pitched six strong innings for a career-best sixth straight victory and Abraham Almonte hit two run-scoring doubles, helping the Cleveland Indians beat the Texas Rangers 12-1 on Friday night in a matchup of division leaders.
The Indians (73-54) snapped a three-game losing streak, which had tied a season high, and pulled within a game of the Rangers (75-54) for the best record in the American League a night after losing 9-0 to Texas ace Cole Hamels.
Adrian Beltre hit a solo homer in the sixth for the AL West-leading Rangers, but Kluber (14-8) struck out the other three hitters in the right-hander’s final inning to finish with seven strikeouts. The 2014 AL Cy Young winner has a 1.75 ERA over the nine starts covering the winning streak.
Almonte drove in four runs in his first multi-RBI game of the season, including a two-run double past diving center fielder Ian Desmond in left-center to give the AL Central leaders a 6-0 lead in the sixth.
Roberto Perez, Cleveland’s No. 9 hitter with a .104 average coming in, had four singles and three RBIs.
Jason Kipnis opened the scoring with an RBI double in the third against Martin Perez (8-10), who lost at home for the first time since May 13. The left-hander gave up 10 hits and six runs in 5 2-3 innings.
Texas designated hitter Carlos Beltran went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts, extending his career-worst slump to 0 for 32.
DWI ARREST
Texas reliever Jeremy Jeffress wasn’t with the team Friday after his overnight arrest on a drunken driving charge in Dallas. The 28-year-old right-hander was placed on the restricted list, but general manager Jon Daniels expected him to be back with the Rangers on Saturday. Lefty reliever Dario Alvarez was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock and allowed three runs in 1 2-3 innings.
TRAINERS ROOM
Indians: RF Lonnie Chisenhall sat a day after fouling a pitch off his right knee. Manager Terry Francona said he was available as a pinch-hitter and could return to the lineup Saturday.
UP NEXT
Indians: RHP Carlos Carrasco (9-6, 3.12 ERA) pitched eight innings in a 1-0 victory at Oakland in his last start. He is 6-3 on the road with a 1.74 ERA, the lowest in baseball away from home.
Rangers: RHP A.J. Griffin (5-3, 4.68) has a 6.69 ERA in his past eight starts. He has allowed at least one homer in 11 straight starts, matching the longest streak in franchise history (Casey Cox with Washington in 1970).
