Indians top prospect Francisco Lindor stole the show, reaching base four times and belting his first career home run to help Cleveland jump on Detroit’s emergency starter Buck Farmer in an 8-2 victory on Wednesday afternoon at Progressive Field.
Starting in place of Justin Verlander, who was scratched with mid-back stiffness, Farmer allowed five runs on eight hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings, while striking out seven. The 24-year-old right-hander owns an ERA of 11.02 over 20 2/3 career innings with an 0-3 record, and he was optioned following the game to make room for reliever Bruce Rondon.
“First time around, they were taking some offspeed early. And then the next time through, it seemed more that they were swinging at it,” said Farmer, who arrived in Cleveland around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday night. “I thought I threw the ball decent, not up to my standards obviously.”
Cleveland starter Carlos Carrasco worked efficiently through a Miguel Cabrera-less Tigers lineup, cruising through eight innings while allowing just two earned runs on five hits and a walk. He struck out seven batters, and his pitch count exceeded 15 in just two of his eight frames. The only damage against Carrasco came on a two-run homer by J.D. Martinez in the seventh inning, following a double by Yoenis Cespedes.
“He had a real good breaking ball right from the very beginning,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “And he threw it for strikes, and he threw it a lot. It was working and probably allowed him to get away with a few maybe later.”
The win improves Carrasco’s record to 9-6 and establishes a new career high in wins for the 28-year-old. The Indians had won just one of their previous seven games against the Tigers, and just five of their previous 25 at home.
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