Carrasco improves to 4-0 behind Alonso's HR

Carrasco improves to 4-0 behind Alonso's HR

April 23rd, 2018

BALTIMORE -- The crack of the bat brought Oriole Park at Camden Yards to life, the Orioles' faithful intoxicated by the possibility of the sound. The ball flew high off 's bat, beckoning for the right-field wall.
Not this time. Not on Monday night, not against Indians right-hander . Right fielder settled under the fly and caught it, ending the seventh inning. The Indians would go on to win, 2-1, and clinch the four-game series thanks in large part to a dominant showing from Carrasco.

Indians manager Terry Francona attributed Carrasco's success to his ability to get early contact in at-bats.
"I thought Carlos was outstanding. A different set of circumstances, he could've stayed out there a while," Francona said of Carrasco, who threw 81 pitches (58 strikes).

Carrasco improved to 4-0 with a 2.31 ERA through five starts this season. He also extended his win streak to 10, dating back to Aug. 11, 2017.
The Indians' scoring came in the second inning, when blasted his fifth home run of the season -- and second of the series -- 421 feet over the center-field fence. Cleveland hit six homers over the four-game series.

Carrasco returned to the mound for the eighth, retiring the first batter before giving up a single to . He left having allowed one earned run, six hits and two walks against seven strikeouts, with Baltimore's only run coming on 's RBI single in the second.

Left-hander spelled Carrasco, and after allowing a single to Manny Machado, escaped the frame by inducing into a forceout. Right-hander struck out the side in the ninth to seal the win.

SOUND SMART
Miller and Allen have been nearly unhittable this season. After Monday's win, both relievers have thrown 10 scoreless innings.

YOU GOTTA SEE THIS
The Orioles were threatening in the bottom of the second inning, with two runners on base and Santander at the plate. Santander ripped a liner back to Carrasco, who gloved it and, from one knee, fired to first to complete the inning-ending double play.
"To be honest with you, I didn't see the ball, I just put my glove [up]," Carrasco said. "I [caught] the ball and threw it to first."

UP NEXT
Josh Tomlin returns to the mound for his first start since April 10 in the opener of a two-game set against the Cubs, countering at 6:10 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Tomlin, who has been battling a back issue, started the season in disappointing fashion, surrendering eight earned runs in three innings on April 3. Francona said the rest has provided some relief for Tomlin, who pitched a frame in Wednesday's 16-inning game in Puerto Rico.