Well how about that offense? The Cleveland Indians clobbered the Chicago White Sox by a score of 9-0, heralding the arrival of Oscar Mercado in his Tribe debut with a blowout victory.
The story of the game: Five home runs for the Indians.
Roberto Pérez homered
Bebo struck first with a solo shot in the third inning to put the Indians on the board. It came immediately after Jake Bauers was initially ruled safe trying to steal second base, before replay review overturned the call and sent him walking back to the dugout in shame.
Jordan Luplow homered
I’ll say this: Luplow knows what he likes, because his third home run of the season — a two-run shot in the fourth to put the Tribe ahead 3-0 — was also his third home run of the season against White Sox starting pitcher Manny Bañuelos.
Luplow either really likes Bañuelos or really doesn’t like Bañuelos.
Jake Bauers homered
Way to atone for not being on base for that first home run, Jake.
In that same inning, Jason Kipnis — he of the bunt single in the first inning — doubled with two outs to score Roberto Perez from third. Carlos Santana followed with an RBI single, but was thrown out trying to advance to second.
When the dust cleared at the end of the fifth, the Indians led 6-0.
Jordan Luplow homered (again)
Just when you thought you had Luplow figured out, he homers against a pitcher not named Manny Bañuelos. Jordan is more complicated than you could have ever imagined.
José Ramírez homered
Just the fourth home run of the season for the Indians’ third baseman. Two of them have come against the White Sox. Credit where credit is due, he is doing damage against a division opponent. I certainly can’t fault him for that.
Oscar Mercado did not homer
But he struck out three times in four at-bats. Yet the Indians are 1-0 this season when Mercado is in the lineup. Coincidence? Well, probably, but no one likes a skeptic.
He did score a run, though. Mercado took a pitch to the back in the eighth inning, putting him on first. Bauers followed with a walk, before a Pérez single misplayed by Ryan Cordell in right field allowed him to score from second.
Carlos Carrasco didn’t homer, either
But he did pitch well. Carrasco notched seven scoreless innings, allowing six hits and no walks, and striking out six. The Indians, of course, didn’t necessarily need him to pitch lights out, but it was a welcome sight, nonetheless.