CINCINNATI (AP) — Carlos Santana hit two two-run homers, and Josh Tomlin stayed unbeaten by allowing only five hits while pitching into the eighth inning on Thursday night, leading the Cleveland Indians to a 7-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds and the first sweep of their annual intrastate series.
The Indians won two games in Cleveland and two at Great American Ball Park by outscoring the Reds 43-16. Neither team had swept the season series that started in 1997. Cleveland has won nine of the 10 games over the past two seasons.
Cleveland (21-17) moved a season-high four games over .500 with its fourth straight win, which also matches its season high. The Reds have dropped seven of eight and nine of 11.
Tomlin (6-0) won his sixth straight decision on the road. The right-hander gave up Joey Votto’s two-run homer and fanned seven in 7 2/3 innings. He also helped an offense that had its way with the Reds. Tomlin singled and doubled, the first Indians pitcher to do so since Steve Dunning in 1972.
Santana connected in the fourth off Tim Adleman, who left the game a few pitches later with a strained left oblique. Santana hit his seventh homer the following inning off Caleb Cotham (0-3), the 34th homer allowed by the major leagues’ worst bullpen.
Rajai Davis had two doubles, drove in a run and stole a base. Cleveland’s leadoff hitter went 9 for 16 with two homers and eight RBIs during the series and was voted its most outstanding player. Francisco Lindor had 11 hits during the series, giving him 51 for the season.
Adleman’s injury is the latest setback to a rotation that already has five starters on the disabled list. Only two starters have lasted seven innings this season, putting a strain on the bullpen.
During the four-game series, Reds pitchers retired the side in order only six times in 37 innings.
OHIO SERIES
The Indians lead the intrastate series 54-45, going 20-10 against the Reds since 2011.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Indians: Manager Terry Francona was going to give closer Cody Allen a day off after pitching two innings Wednesday night.
Reds: RHP Anthony DeSclafani is scheduled to throw batting practice Friday. He’s been on the DL since the start of the season with a strained oblique. He felt discomfort during a minor league rehab assignment and had to back off.
UP NEXT
Indians: Corey Kluber (2-5) will be working on five days’ rest when he opens a series at Fenway Park. Kluber is 1-3 in eight career outings against Boston with a 5.14 ERA.
Reds: Dan Straily (2-1) opens a weekend series against Seattle. Straily went 0-2 with a 6.20 ERA in five career starts against the Mariners when he was with Oakland.
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