CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians took what was given on Saturday, and the Baltimore Orioles gave them plenty.
Yan Gomes drove in three runs to lead a 13-hit attack, the Indians scored six times in the first two innings and Cleveland rolled to an 11-4 win over the Orioles.
Cleveland capitalized on four errors that led to six unearned runs in building the lead. Gomes’ two-run single highlighted a four-run first, and he added an RBI single in the fifth.
Mike Napoli drove in two runs for the Indians, who moved into first place in the AL Central.
"We started off pretty good," said Napoli, who was also involved in a double steal. "Putting pressure on other people had a little bit to do with it. We put some good at-bats together."
Danny Salazar (5-3), who allowed two runs in six innings, admitted the early runs were crucial.
"That’s great," he said. "It gave me a little more confidence to go out there. That made the game a little bit easier for us."
Salazar rebounded from his worst start of the season, giving up a run in the fifth and another in the sixth. The right-hander, who allowed four runs in 4 1/3 innings Sunday in Boston, gave up six hits and struck out five.
Ubaldo Jimenez (2-6) was charged with six runs in 1 2/3 innings. Third baseman Pedro Alvarez’s fielding error in the first made three of the runs unearned.
Adam Jones drove in two runs and Mark Trumbo had three hits for Baltimore, which has lost five of six.
Cleveland’s scoring in the first came as a result of three hits, two walks, three stolen bases and Alvarez’s error.
Carlos Santana singled and Jason Kipnis walked, and both moved up on an infield out. Alvarez tried to backhand Napoli’s grounder, but it kicked off his glove and rolled into left field for a 2-0 lead. Napoli was credited with an RBI.
Jose Ramirez walked and, following a double steal, Gomes singled through the right side.
Cleveland manager Terry Francona thought it was important to jump ahead when the chance was there.
"How many times do you see a guy where you let him off the hook and then they settle into the game?" he said. "We did a good job of not allowing that to happen. It made for a better game for us because you could see them coming."
Jimenez retired only five of the 14 batters he faced and threw 50 pitches before finally being pulled. The right-hander pitched for the Indians from 2011-13.
"We did some things that didn’t help him," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "We had some throwing errors. When you’re so deep in the count and 30-something pitches in the first inning, got everybody kind of on their heels there."
Alvarez also had a throwing error, and catcher Matt Wieters and pitcher Ashur Tolliver also committed errors.
Indians right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall was removed from the game in the fifth inning due to blurred vision.
The game was delayed by rain for 22 minutes in the eighth inning.
IT’S EARLY, BUT…
The win moved the Indians into the top spot in the division for the first time since they won on opening day in 2014. Cleveland is 26-21, despite missing outfielder Michael Brantley and right-hander Carlos Carrasco because of injuries.
"There’s people filling in," Napoli said. "It’s going to take all of us to do this. We’ve done a good job of sticking together."
TRAINER’S ROOM
Orioles: RHP Yovani Gallardo (shoulder tendinitis) threw three innings in a simulated game Saturday. He’s scheduled to begin a rehab assignment at Class A Frederick on Thursday.
Indians: Brantley (right shoulder inflammation) has no timetable for his return. He’s on the 15-day disabled list for the second time this season.
UP NEXT
Orioles: RHP Chris Tillman (6-1) looks to win his sixth straight decision. He hasn’t lost since April 14, a span of seven starts.
Indians: RHP Mike Clevinger (0-1) makes his third major league start. The rookie allowed six runs, including two homers, in five innings against the White Sox on Monday.
