Andres Gimenez capped a seven-run fifth inning with a three-run homer, and Franmil Reyes added a two-run homer in the sixth, as the visiting Cleveland Indians rolled to an 11-3 victory Saturday over the New York Yankees.
Reyes drove in three runs while Yu Chang homered and drove in three runs for the Indians. Jose Ramirez added a late homer as Cleveland (72-74) won for only the fifth time in 15 games and rebounded nicely after getting shut out in Friday’s series opener.
The Yankees (83-66) lost for the 14th time in 21 games following their 13-game winning streak Aug. 14-27. New York also saw slugger Joey Gallo exit due to neck tightness following the third inning.
Gimenez’s homer occurred after the Indians capitalized on an error by New York catcher Gary Sanchez with one out in the inning.
Sanchez, who did not corral two wild pitches in Thursday’s 3-2 loss in Baltimore, dropped a foul pop by Oscar Mercado. Instead of recording the second out of the inning, Mercado was hit by a pitch and began a string of six straight Cleveland hitters to reach base.
Ramirez followed with a walk to knock out New York starter Luis Gil (1-1) and Reyes hit an RBI double to left off Albert Abreu that went over the leaping attempt of third baseman DJ LeMahieu.
Chang pushed the lead to 4-0 with an RBI double to the right field corner and Owen Miller followed with an RBI single up the middle past the diving attempt of shortstop Gio Urshela for a 5-0 advantage. Gimenez crushed his two-out home run into the right field seats for an 8-0 lead. It was his third of the season.
Reyes gave Cleveland a 10-0 lead in the sixth inning with a two-run home run, his 30th.
Giancarlo Stanton hit his 30th homer and Voit added a two-run homer for the Yankees, who entered Saturday a half-game up on the Toronto Blue Jays for the American League’s second wild card and dropped 1 1/2 games behind the wild-card leading Boston Red Sox.
Cleveland’s Aaron Civale (11-4) allowed four hits in six scoreless innings in his third start back from a sprained middle finger in his right hand. He struck out four, walked one and threw 91 pitches.
Gil was charged with three runs (two earned) and three hits in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out six and walked four.
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–Field Level Media