Robinson Cano wasted no time against Indians closer Cody Allen. Seattle’s second baseman scorched a first-pitch fastball in the 10th inning on Thursday, sending it into the center-field bushes at Progressive Field to propel the Mariners to a 10-7 win over Cleveland.
“I’d never got a hit against him,” said Cano, who was 0-for-7 against Allen coming in. “He’s one of the best closers in the game. This was the time where he gave me the one pitch over the plate.”
The victory, which gave Seattle a series win in the three-game road set, came after the Indians did all they could to pull off a comeback. In the eighth inning, Cleveland’s Mike Napoli belted the first pinch-hit blast of his career, providing a two-run shot off Mariners reliever Joaquin Benoit that pulled the game into a 7-7 deadlock.
That set the stage for Cano’s game-deciding shot, which marked his sixth home run of the year.
“It would have been a great game to win. We kept coming,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “Obviously, Nap with a huge hit. It’s kind of fun to watch a guy that’s not playing, sit there for eight innings and be locked in, and then go do what he did. That’s pretty impressive.”
Seattle backup catcher Steve Clevenger delivered his first home run of the season in the second inning, when his two-run blast off Cody Anderson staked Seattle to an early lead. Nelson Cruz came through with a bases-loaded walk and an RBI single against Trevor Bauer, who turned in two innings of relief behind starter Anderson.
Seattle right-hander Nathan Karns logged 5 1/3 innings and was charged with five runs, including three on a fifth-inning home run by Rajai Davis.
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