CLEVELAND — Right-hander Zach McAllister pitched into the eighth inning and second baseman Jason Kipnis belted a two-run home run as the Cleveland Indians beat the San Diego Padres 2-0 in the first game of a doubleheader at Progressive Field Wednesday.
McAllister (1-1) pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings on five hits, with seven strikeouts and no walks. After giving up consecutive two-out singles in the eighth inning McAllister was relieved by right-hander Chad Allen. Allen then ended the inning by retiring left fielder Seth Smith on a called third strike.
Right-hander John Axford pitched the ninth inning to pick up his fourth save.
Most of the game was a pitcher’s duel between McAllister and Padres left-hander Eric Stults (0-2), who pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on five hits. Stults struck out one and walked two.
The Indians broke a scoreless tie by scoring the only runs of the game in the sixth inning. With one out first baseman First baseman Nick Swisher reached second on a throwing error by third baseman Alexi Amarista. Kipnis then hit the first pitch thrown by Stults over the wall in center field for his first home run of the season, giving Cleveland a 2-0 lead.
The Indians had a chance to do further damage in that inning when designated hitter Carlos Santana drew a walk following Kipnis’ homer. A double by left-fielder Ryan Raburn put runners at second and third with one out.
However, Stults struck out center fielder Michael Brantley, and right-hander Nick Vincent came out of the bullpen to strike out catcher Yan Gomes to end the inning.
McAllister and Stults pitched to a standoff through the first five innings. Both pitchers held the opposition scoreless on three hits. The three hits allowed by McAllister were all doubles. He did not allow a single until the eighth inning.
In the first and third innings the Padres got one-out doubles from left fielder Smith and Amarista respectively, but McAllister pitched out of trouble both times. In the second inning Santana and Brantley singled and Gomes walked to load the bases, but Stults retired third baseman Mike Aviles on a popout and got right fielder David Murphy on a groundout to first to end the inning.
NOTES: Prior to the game the Indians optioned RHP Vinnie Pestano to Triple-A Columbus and recalled RHP C.C. Lee. … Starting with a four-game series in Chicago on Thursday, the Indians will play 14 consecutive games against teams in the AL Central. … Prior to Wednesday’s doubleheader, the Padres recalled LHP Bobby LaFromboise from Triple-A El Paso to serve as the team’s 26th player in the doubleheader.