CLEVELAND -- How would the Cleveland Indians respond after a ninth-inning collapse against the Cincinnati Reds in front of the home fans at Progressive Field on Tuesday night?
Well, the Indians answered that question early and often, as they broke out the bats in a big way, plating nine runs in the third inning and another six in the fourth frame en route to a 19-4 response victory over the Reds in the third installment of “The Battle of Ohio” Wednesday night.
The Indians got three extra-base hits, a double from outfielder Tyler Naquin, as well as home runs from infielders Jose Ramirez, Francisco Lindor and Jason Kipnis, along with run-producing hits from seven different players.
Ramirez led the way with five RBI to go along with two each from catcher Yan Gomes, first baseman Yonder Alonso, Naquin, outfielder Michael Brantley and Kipnis, along with three from Lindor. Both of Brantley’s RBI and three of Ramirez’s five came with two outs.
The Indians were 11 of 18 with runners in scoring position in the victory. Also, every one of the Indians’ batters in the starting lineup had at least one base hit.
PHOTOS: Cleveland Indians cruise past Cincinnati Reds at Progressive Field
Already with a 2-0 lead heading into the bottom of the third inning because of a two-run homer from Ramirez in the bottom of the first, the Indians went to work at the plate and removed all doubt with the nine-run frame.
Brantley ignited the rally by reaching on a two-base error charged to Reds first baseman Joey Votto, moved onto third when designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion smacked a single to left-center field and came around to score when Alonso singled to center.
After Kipnis loaded the bases with a single to right field, Gomes singled to right-center and plated both Encarnacion and Alonso, which drove Reds starter Tyler Mahle from the game. Mahle had not lost a game in nearly two months before allowing seven runs, five of which were earned, and six hits to the Indians.
Naquin drove in Kipnis with an infield single to first base, and after the bases were reloaded when Lindor walked, Brantley drove in a pair of runners with a single to right field.
Ramirez delivered the final hit of the inning when he drilled a pitch from Reds reliever Tanner Rainey over the wall in right field for a three-run home run.
Far from done at the plate, the Indians brought around six more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Alonso reached on a lead-off walk and came around to score when Kipnis smashed a pitch from Rainey over the wall in right field for his ninth home run of the season. After Gomes drew a walk, Naquin doubled to the wall in center field and brought in the Indians’ third run of the frame.
Outfielder Greg Allen followed with a single to right field, and on a 1-1 pitch from Jackson Stephens, Lindor crushed a three-run home run to right.
The Indians added another two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Indians starter Carlos Carrasco scattered five hits, one walk and one earned run over five innings of work. In his second start since returning from a three-week stint on the disabled list because of a bruised elbow, Carrasco struck out seven hitters.
