Cleveland rookie Zach Plesac allowed only two hits pitching into the eighth inning and the Indians had four home runs, including three in a row for the first time in nearly 15 years, to overwhelm the Texas Rangers 10-3 on Tuesday night.
After Jake Bauers led off the Indians' seventh with a 389-foot shot to right-center, Roberto Perez and Tyler Naquin followed with homers that measured more than 400 feet. Those long balls came in a span of five pitches off reliever Drew Smyly.
The last time Cleveland had hit back-to-back-to-back homers was at Seattle on July 16, 2004.
Plesac (2-2) struck out six and walked five, the last two free passes to the Nos. 8 and 9 hitters to open the eighth and end his fifth career start. The only run the right-hander allowed came on Rougned Odor's one-out homer in the fifth. Oliver Perez got a double-play liner and a strikeout to get out of the eighth.
Texas got two of its five overall hits in the ninth, including Willie Calhoun's two-run homer.
Rangers starter Adrian Sampson (5-4), who was 5-0 his previous six games, allowed five runs (three earned) in three innings.
Jose Ramirez hit a three-run homer in the third, into the upper deck of seats in right field, before a RBI single by Naquin made it 5-0.
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Smyly, the veteran right-hander who lost his spot in the Rangers rotation, took over in the fourth and had a 32-pitch inning. A two-run single by Jason Kipnis made it 7-0 right after a double steal.
After the three homers in the seventh, Smyly has an 8.42 ERA and allowed 19 homers over 51 1/3 innings in his 13 games this season.
SIGNED SECOND
Rangers second-round draft pick Ryan Garcia, the Pac-12 pitcher of the year from UCLA, signed for a bonus of $1,469,900 and was at the game. The right-hander was 10-1 with a 1.44 ERA with 117 strikeouts in 16 games this season, and 20-2 in 54 games overall for the Bruins.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Indians: Manager Terry Francona said RHP Mike Clevinger had some swelling and discoloration in his left ankle after taking an awkward step off the mound Monday night during his first start since April 7. He will throw a side session later this week. "I think all things lead towards him being OK," Francona said.
Rangers: OF Hunter Pence, placed on the 10-day injured list Monday with a strained right groin, described his injury as "very minor, not too bad." ... OF Joey Gallo got to the team's complex in Arizona. Manager Chris Woodward said Gallo, out since June 2 with a left oblique strain, is swinging 100 percent and taking flyballs.
UP NEXT
Indians: Right-hander Adam Plutko (3-1, 4.63 ERA) will try to win his third consecutive start. He allowed four earn runs over 12 innings the last two.
Rangers: Joe Palumbo will be recalled from Double-A Frisco for his second career start. The lefty allowed four runs over four innings in a no decision in his big league debut June 8 against Oakland.
