Indians Rip Sal Romano Rip Reds

The last time Sal Romano faced the Cleveland Indians, he gave up four runs in the first two innings. This time the Indians took the game to the bank behind Corey Kluber, 8-1.

The Reds put together a seven-run rally with two out in the ninth to take Romano off the hook and turn a 4-0 shutout into a 7-4 win.

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The task was even taller on Tuesday.  The Indians ripped four singles and parlayed two walks into a 4-0 lead while batting around in the first inning.  At one point Romano retired two straight batters but two singles and a sacrifice fly in the second put the Indians in control 6-0.

"We want Sal to get ground balls and he got ground balls but they all found holes," Jim Riggleman said. "There was not much we could do about it.  They were sharp hit balls.  It was good hitting but we could not turn any of them.  A foot or two the other way it would have been a double play ball.  It turned into a tough inning and 2/3."

The Reds managed a single and a walk in the third off Kluber who improved to 15-6..  Preston Tucker singled to open the third but Michael Lorenzen, who replaced Romano hit into a double play.  Billy Hamilton walked and appeared to steal second base.  Yan Gomes throw was snagged by Francisco Lindor and he got a tag down quickly but Hamilton was ruled safe by Chad Whitson.  The Indians challenged the call and Hamilton was ruled out.

The Indians scored their seventh run on a double play ground ball in the fifth inning with the bases loaded.

Jose Ramirez hit his 36th home run off a Lorenzen pitch in the sixth.

The Reds snapped the shutout in the seventh inning.  Tucker Barnhart hit a triple down the right field line with one out.  Mason Williams struck out but Preston Tucker's second single of the game drove in Barnhart.

Kluber finished with seven innings, allowing a run on five hits and two walks.  He struck out seven.

"We knew how good he is but that was really some good pitching," Riggleman said.. "Tonight Kluber pitched.  He's not a flame thrower but he really pitched.  He has a good arm but he really pitched."

Romano was 3-1 with a no decision since the end of June but this game was a step back and left him with a 7-10 record and a 5.31 ERA on the season, a raise of nearly a half a run per game.

"They did find a hole but I also fell behind every single hitter I faced.  It's unacceptable.  I was on a pretty good run.  Back to work tomorrow," Romano said.  "There is nothing that I can take from this game, there was some soft contact, a lot of singles.  You're not going to get away with that kind of stuff against a team like that over there."