Carlos Carrasco allowed one hit in seven scoreless innings, and Jose Ramirez homered twice to lift the Indians to a 7-4 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday. Cleveland took three of four in this series after entering on an eight-game losing streak, and now the Indians are closing in on a playoff berth.
This was Carrasco’s first win of September, but he’s been impressive this month, allowing one run or fewer in three of his four starts. Cleveland’s starting pitching has been a strength from the start this season, with Shane Bieber and Zach Plesac leading the way with ERAs under 2.00.
The offense, on the other hand, ranks near the bottom of the AL in runs, homers and OPS. Ramirez has done his part, though, hitting 15 home runs this year. He had two multihomer games in this series.
“He’s always happy, he’s rooting for other players in the dugout,” interim manager Sandy Alomar Jr. said. “He’s one of those guys that COVID hasn’t even (brought) him down, because he’s just motivated all the time.”
Matthew Boyd (2-7) was perfect through four innings for the Tigers, but the Indians scored three runs in the fifth. Then Ramirez added two-run homers in the sixth and seventh to make it 7-0.
Miguel Cabrera hit his 484th career home run for Detroit in the eighth.
Carrasco (3-4) struck out 11 and retired the Tigers in order in five of his seven innings. He allowed a hit and a walk to start the Detroit third but escaped that jam. He walked two in the seventh but also struck out three in what was his final frame.