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Homer-happy Indians hit 5 HRs, cruise past Tigers

CLEVELAND — Aaron Civale allowed just three hits while dominating Detroit over 7 2/3 innings and was backed by five home runs, including Jordan Luplow’s three-run shot, as the Cleveland Indians pounded the Tigers 11-3 on Saturday night.

Luplow narrowly missed a second three-run homer, settling for a two-run double to finish with a career-high five RBIs.

Civale (2-0), who beat the Tigers in his season debut a week ago, continued a run of strong starting pitching for Cleveland, whose rotation has a 2.60 ERA through seven games. The right-hander gave up two singles and faced the minimum through six innings before Robbie Grossman homered in the seventh.

Civale didn’t issue a walk and struck out six before manager Terry Francona replaced him in the eighth after 90 pitches.

“He pitched really well,” Francona said. “He threw his breaking ball for lead strikes. He elevated his fastball. He threw a good changeup. Kind of like (Zach) Plesac last night, they had to respect three different pitches and three different speeds.”

Jeimer Candelario hit a two-run homer in the ninth for Detroit.

Luplow’s 432-foot shot to straightaway center with two outs in the fourth off rookie Tarik Skubal (0-1) put the Indians ahead 6-0.

Franmil Reyes hit his third homer in two days, Roberto Perez and Andres Gimenez each added a two-run homer and Cesar Hernandez had a solo shot for the Indians, who will try to complete a three-game series sweep Sunday.

The Indians have homered nine times in their past three games. Their 14 homers in the first seven games are the most by a Cleveland team since the 1997 Indians hit 15.

Luplow appeared to hit his second three-run homer in the sixth, but the umpires ruled it hit the top of the wall in left and the call of a double was upheld following an unusually long video review.

With Detroit starting a left-hander, Luplow got the start in center because he’s a .270 career hitter against lefties. In the fourth, Yu Chang doubled with one out, Perez walked, and one out later, Luplow rocketed his second homer to the deepest part of Progressive Field.

Perez battled a shoulder injury all last season. And while it didn’t bother him defensively (he won a Gold Glove), it impacted how he swung the bat.

Perez hit just one homer in 97 at-bats in 2020. He’s already doubled that total, and after losing 25 pounds in the offseason, he feels better than he has in years.

Emmanuel Clase has been a revelation for the Indians after the reliever spent last season on the restricted list due to an 80-game drug suspension.

The team knew the right-hander, who came over in 2019 from Texas in the trade involving two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber, had potential. They didn’t expect him to blossom this quickly.

“We didn’t get a chance to get to know him last spring real well,” Francona said. “Then he was gone and he was out in Arizona. This spring, he seems like a different person. He’s really embraced being a part of our team and our organization.

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