CLEVELAND, Ohio – On a night when Shane Bieber didn’t have his best stuff, Tyler Naquin and Oscar Mercado were there to pick up the All-Star MVP. The duo combined for seven hits, including two doubles and a home run in the Indians’ 7-5 win over the Royals.
Mercado finished 5-for-5 on the night. His five hits were a career-high. The last Indians player with five hits in a game was José Ramírez on September 3, 2017 against Detroit. Mercado raised his batting average to .299, which is the highest on the team. He has 10 hits, three home runs and eight RBI in his last five games. Mercado has turned things around after struggling earlier this month.
Bieber allowed five runs and seven hits in 5⅔ innings. He walked four (one intentional) and had six strikeouts on the night. His ERA rose to 3.69 and his record improves to 9-3 this season.
Francisco Lindor had a big night at the plate, going 3-for-5 with two doubles and two runs scored. Ramírez extended his hitting streak to 11 games on the season with an RBI single in the eighth inning. He finished 1-for-4 with two RBI.
Hosey extends his hitting streak to 11 games! --#RallyTogether pic.twitter.com/6NtPHxk1Z5
— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) July 20, 2019Cleveland combined for 16 hits. They did most of their damage in the third inning (four runs) and the eighth inning (three runs).
The Indians’ bullpen tossed 3⅓ scoreless innings. Nick Goody and Adam Cimber preserved the lead following Bieber's departure, which allowed the Tribe to put the game out of reach with a three-run eight inning. Óliver Pérez put the game away in the ninth.
The Indians have won six straight games. They’re 56-40 on the season.
Rakin’ Naquin – Naquin continued his hot streak, going 2-for-3 with a home run and a double. He’s posted a .459 batting average, with three home runs, 11 RBI and six doubles in the month of July.
When you hit a ball this hard, you deserve to watch it go.#RallyTogether pic.twitter.com/xc2rspyK0D
— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) July 20, 2019Up Next – The Indians continue their series with the Royals on Saturday night. Adam Plutko will start for the Tribe. The right-hander enters with a 3-1 record and a 5.40 ERA. Jake Junis will pitch for Kansas City. He’s 5-8 on the season with a 5.08 ERA.
