Corey Kluber pitches Shutout, Indians thump Orioles

Starting pitcher Corey Kluber #28 of the Cleveland Indians throws to a Baltimore Orioles batter in the first inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 19, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland.

(June 19, 2017 - Source: Rob Carr/Getty Images North America)

SP Corey Kluber pitches a shutout as the Cleveland Indians (37-31) thump the Baltimore Orioles (34-35) 12-0 in the opener of their four-game series at Camden Yards. It was Corey Kluber’s second shutout of the season. Cleveland is now on a six-game winning streak.

The Indians set the tone in the fourth inning. Three consecutive one-out doubles from 3B Jose Ramirez, DH Edwin Encarnacion and RF Lonnie Chisenhall produced the first two runs for Cleveland. They went on to load the bases with a walk from Carlos Santana and C Yan Gomes was hit by a pitch. With two outs LF Austin Jackson doubled, driving in two runs to put Cleveland up 4-0.

Baltimore’s SP Dylan Bundy needed 32 pitches to get out of the inning, running his pitch count up to 88.

2B Jason Kipnis hit a leadoff home run in the fifth to give the Indians a 5-0 lead. It was his eighth long ball of the season.

Dylan Bundy (7-6) was relieved after walking Edwin Encarnacion with one out. He surrendered 6 hits, 3 walks and 6 earned runs while striking out 2. His ERA and WHIP rose to 3.72 and 1.22, respectively.

The pitching change, however, did not have the desired effect. Carlos Santana hit a two-out home run, his ninth of the year, to put the Indians up 7-0. With Yan Gomes and CF Bradley Zimmer at the corners Austin Jackson doubled to drive in Yan Gomes for another run.

The onslaught continued in the sixth inning. The Indians loaded the bases with a leadoff walk by Jason Kipnis, a double from Jose Ramirez and an intentional walk to Edwin Encarnacion. Lonnie Chisenhall singled next to drive in Jason Kipnis. Carlos Santana followed with a sacrifice flyball for another score and with two outs Bradley Zimmer hit an RBI-single to give Cleveland an 11-0 lead.

The Indians added a 12th run in the ninth thanks to several errors. With two outs Edwin Encarnacion reached on a fielding error by 1B Trey Mancini and Lonnie Chisenhall followed with an infield single. Both runners advanced one base each on a wild pitch. RF Daniel Robertson reached on a fielding error by SS Paul Janish next, which enabled Edwin Encarnacion to come home for the final run of the game.

Corey Kluber (6-2) allowed just 3 hits and struck out 11. He now has a 3.58 ERA with a 1.09 WHIP on the season.

Carlos Santana went 2-for-2 with 2 runs, 1 HR and 3 RBI. He is batting .225 and has 42 runs, 9 HR and 38 RBI this year.