Cleveland defeated Pittsburgh 5-3 on Wendesday night and goes into Friday's regular season start undefeated in preseason play (unless, of course, you also count their 7-12 spring training mark before the season suspension).
Indians right-hander Aaron Civale picked up the win, pitching five innings and giving up four hits along with two earned runs, while James Karinchak notched his first save of the series, throwing a scoreless 9th inning despite walking two batters.
"It was good to get back out there and go compete again," said Civale in a postgame conference.
Civale also added six strikeouts in a nice performance, despite giving up two early runs on a long 1st-inning home run from Pirates designated hitter Josh Bell (2-3, 2 RBIs).
After the game, Indians manager Terry Francona praised Civale's outing by saying, "He pitches beyond his years."
The Tribe offense also came ready to play as Carlos Santana, Jose Ramirez, and Christian Arroyo each knocked solo home runs into the empty PNC Park bleachers. Santana (2-4, HR, 2 RBIs) and Ramirez (2-3, HR, 1 RBI) joined Cesar Hernandez (2-4) as the only Tribe players with multiple hits.
The Indians started the game scoring when in the top of the 1st, Ramirez scored on a Santana ground ball that was turned into an error by shortstop Kevin Newman that allowed Francisco Lindor (1-4) to advance to third. Lindor would then score on an infield single by Franmil Reyes (1-3, 1 RBI).
As for the Pirates, Bell's home run - which was measured at over 400 feet off Civale - brought the Pirates back to a tied score after one frame, but Santana's third inning home run, followed by Ramirez's 5th-inning jack, brought the Bucs back to two runs down. They cut the lead in half in the bottom of the 7th when Jarrod Dyson (1-3, 1 RBI) doubled off Tribe reliever Brad Hand to allow Jason Martin (0-0, 1 BB) to score from second.
The score would be finalized when Arroyo launched his home run off of Pittsburgh's Miguel Del Pozo in the top of the 9th inning.
Pirates starter Derek Holland took the loss despite only pitching three innings, giving up five hits and three runs (two unearned) in his outing. Relievers for Pittsburgh for the game's remainder included Chris Stratton, Kyle Crick, Clay Holmes, Robbie Erlin, Geoff Hartlieb, and Del Pozo, respectively.
Meanwhile, the Indians finished what Civale started with inning-long outings from Adam Plutko, Hand, Adam Cimber, and Karinchak, with everyone but Hand going scoreless.
Now that this series is done, it's onto the start of the 60-game regular season. Both teams begin their 2020 campaigns on Friday.
The Indians will host the Kansas City Royals, while the Pirates will travel to St. Louis to take on the Cardinals.