Bucs bow late
CLEVELAND — Cesar Hernandez ripped an RBI double into the right-field corner with two outs in the ninth inning as Cleveland rallied for its third walk-off win in four days, a 4-3 victory Friday night over the Pittsburgh Pirates that kept the Indians’ hopes alive for winning the AL Central.
Down 3-1 and held to one hit for eight innings, the Indians found more of the late-inning magic that has carried them this week.
Tyler Naquin drew a leadoff walk off Chris Stratton (2-1) and pinch-hitter Jordan Luplow, who hit a walk-off homer on Wednesday night to beat the Chicago White Sox, hit an RBI double high off the wall in left.
Delino DeShields — who broke up Pittsburgh’s no-hit bid with a bunt single in the seventh — hit an RBI single one out later. After Francisco Lindor lined out, it was Hernandez’s turn to be a hero, and after he delivered, he was chased around the infield by his celebrating teammates.
The Indians (34-25) have clinched a playoff spot, and they can still overtake Minnesota and the White Sox, who were just swept in a four-game series by Cleveland.
Until the ninth, the Indians did little against Pittsburgh starter Mitch Keller and three relievers.
Keller didn’t allow a hit for the second straight start, but he walked eight and was relieved after five erratic innings and 98 pitches. The right-hander didn’t allow a hit over six innings in his previous start against St, Louis.
He’s the first NL pitcher with back-to-back no-hit outings of at least five innings since Johnny Vander Meer threw consecutive no-hitters in 1938. Those gems by Vander Meer are considered among baseball’s most hallowed — and untouchable — records.
Gregory Polanco hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning off Indians starter Carlos Carrasco, but the Pirates couldn’t hold on and dropped to 2-16 against AL Central teams.
Pittsburgh’s pitching staff has been as good as anyone’s lately.
The Pirates came in with a major league-best 1.60 ERA over the past 10 games, and Keller managed to continue the impressive run despite not being able to throw many strikes.
