Indians hit three home runs, steal five bases to roll past Rangers

CLEVELAND — The Indians did a little bit of everything to stay hot at Progressive Field on Thursday night. Cleveland hit three home runs — including one from its first batter of the game, Myles Straw — and stole five bases to roll past the Rangers 10-6. It was the fifth win in six games for the Indians, who moved a game above .500 at 63-62. Cleveland got things going about as early as possible, with Straw lining the second pitch of the game from Rangers starter Jordan Lyles just over the wall and just fair to the right-field corner. It was the first career leadoff homer for Straw. Cleveland scored three more times in the inning, once on a Franmil Reyes double and twice on a mammoth home run from Bradley Zimmer to the last few rows in the second deck in right — an estimated 465 feet. "I turned and looked at some of the coaches that have been here," acting manager DeMarlo Hale said of his reaction to Zimmer's moon shot. "We were asking some people who said, 'We ain't seen too many of them up there.' Maybe (Jim) Thome went up there, I think someone said. "He's got that kind of skill set. When he puts a swing on it like that, it's nice to see. Hopefully he keeps going. He's been playing well." Owen Miller hit the third homer of the night for the Indians, a solo shot to left field to lead off the fifth. With his 471-foot shot Aug. 9 against the Reds at Progressive Field, Zimmer owns the longest two home runs of the season by a Cleveland player. At 471 feet, it's the longest homer by an Indians player since 2015, followed by Edwin Encarnacion (466 feet on June 20, 2017), Zimmer (465 feet Thursday), Mike Napoli (463 feet on Sept. 9, 2016), Reyes (462 feet on Aug. 14, 2020) and Napoli (460 feet on July 8, 2016). After battling injuries for years and failing to live up to expectations as a former first-round draft pick (2014), Zimmer is finally healthy, playing more and producing. "I know that I'm going to be playing, so I can just show up every day and prepare to do what I can do to help this team win," Zimmer said. "There's a lot to be said for playing every day. That's ultimately what makes you better and helps create good players who help teams win." With help from third baseman Jose Ramirez, Cleveland starter Sam Hentges failed to take advantage of the early support. The tall left-hander allowed a pair of runs in the second and the first two to reach on hits in the third, but appeared to be on the verge of getting out of the jam when he got Nate Lowe to ground to Ramirez. Ramirez couldn't handle the grounder, allowing the game-tying runs to score. Cleveland scored four times in the fourth to chase Lyles and retake control of the game. Andres Gimenez broke the 4-4 tie with a double into the right-field corner and the last two runs came on RBI singles from Ramirez and Reyes. "I thought that four-run inning we had in the fourth really helped us get back to a good place," Hale said. The Indians reached a season high in the stolen base department, recording their most since June 15, 2019, and getting three from Ramirez, who matched a career high set previously in 2016. Ramirez, who reached base in each of his five trips to the plate, is the first Cleveland player to swipe three bags since Rajai Davis on June 6, 2018. "He's multitalented," Hale said of Ramirez. "His skill set, from power and RBIs, and then him just instinctively on the bases. He's a very good player, All-Star player. There's not a lot like him for sure." Closer Emmanuel Clase struck out two of the four batters he faced in the ninth inning. He hasn't allowed an earned run — and only six hits — over his last 17 appearances, striking out 19 batters over 17 1/3 innings. Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him @CAwesomeheimer on Twitter.