Cleveland Indians Top Seattle Mariners In 10-Inning Duel

The Cleveland Indians powered their way past the Seattle Mariners on Monday afternoon for a 10-8 win in 10-innings. Young catcher Yan Gomes led the way with two homers on the day, including a walk-off, three-run home run in the bottom of the 10th for the Indians fourth straight win.

It wasn’t always pretty on Monday for the Indians, as starter Scott Kazmir gave up two runs in the first inning off back-to-back hits by Kendry Morales and Michael Morse. Cleveland quickly responded in the second inning when Ryan Raburn hit a three-run homer and Gomes followed with a solo shot to make it 4-2 Indians.

Kazmir couldn’t hold it together, and he gave up another two runs the following inning as Morales got the best of him once again. The 29-year-old designated hitter drove in his second run with a single off Kazmir, and another crossed the plate on Morse’s double-play to tie the game at four.

Kazmir was relieved after giving up four runs on seven hits through three innings. The Cleveland Indians went on to trade runs with the Mariners over the next two innings to make it 5-5 going into the fifth.

The Indians regained the lead in the seventh, but Kyle Seager led off the eighth with a solo homer to deep right to tie the game again. After Eric Chavez hit his first homer of the year in the top of the ninth to give the Mariners a 7-6 lead, pitcher Tom Wilhemsen came into the game and blew the save after giving up a run on his own throwing error.

The madness continued into the extra innings, as Justin Smoak started the 10th with a bang, literally. Smoak launched a pitch from reliever Joe Smith into the right field stands to make it 8-7 Mariners.

The Indians were facing their first loss since last Tuesday against the Phillies, but Yan Gomes came through with the biggest hit of his short career to walk-off in style. With runners on first and second, Gomes turned on a pitch from Charlie Furbush, sending it over the left field wall to give the Indians a 10-8 win in one of the most exciting games of the early season.

The Indians are now two games ahead of the Tigers for first place in the American League Central. The Tigers have lost two straight games and will face the Indians on Tuesday to start a short two-game series.

Can the Cleveland Indians hold on to first place in the AL Central with the Detroit Tigers right on their heels?

[Image via Wikimedia Commons]