Francisco Lindor Hits Two Homers as Indians Sweep Rangers

The defending American League champion Cleveland Indians are off to a rousing start. Cleveland opened the season with a three game series in Arlington, Texas against the Texas Rangers, last season’s American League West champions. Cleveland scored five times in the last three innings of the opener on April 3rd, , including three in the ninth inning for an 8-5 comeback win. The Indians took the second game 4-3 on April 4th.

The Rangers had a 6-4 lead going into the ninth inning of the series finale on April 5th, with closer Sam Dyson in to finish it off. Dyson was the losing pitcher in the opener, and had a chance to make up for it here. He proceeded to load the bases on two singles and a walk, and followed that with a bases loaded walk to Carlos Santana, scoring a run. Then shortstop Francisco Lindor stepped to the plate and hit a grand slam home run. It was Lindor’s second homer of the game, and gave Cleveland a 9-6 lead, which turned out to be the final score.

Lindor hit 15 home runs last season while driving in 78 and hitting .301. Cleveland added former Toronto slugger Edwin Encarnacion to their lineup, and have left fielder Michael Brantley back. Brantley missed most of last season due to injuries. The Indians are favored by many to return to the World Series, and they are off to a good start. They’ll play a weekend series at Arizona nest, staring on April 7th. The Rangers will host the Oakland Athletics and try to regroup.