Luplow's catch preserves Indians' 6-5 win over Tigers

DETROIT (AP) — Terry Francona could only watch as the ball sailed toward shallow right field. Jordan Luplow was either going to make the catch and win the game for Cleveland, or Detroit was going to score a run or two.

“It’s like your stomach’s in your throat,” Francona said. “You kind of figure the game’s going to be over one way or the other.”

Luplow made a diving catch on Eric Haase's sinking liner with the bases loaded, preserving a 6-5 victory for the Indians over the Tigers on Monday night. Luplow, who entered as a defensive replacement an inning earlier, made the clutch grab for the final out to help closer Emmanuel Clase escape with his eighth save in nine chances.

“That’s as close as you can come to losing without losing,” said Francona, who won his 698th game as Cleveland's manager. “It was fun, but when I say fun it was agonizingly fun.”

Spencer Turnbull allowed three runs in six innings for Detroit in his first game since pitching a no-hitter last week. It was the bullpen and some sloppy defense that cost the Tigers. Cleveland scored three unearned runs in the seventh to take a 6-3 lead, and although Willi Castro hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the inning, Detroit was unable to come all the way back.

Owen Miller scored twice for Cleveland without hitting the ball out of the infield. He led off the seventh by reaching on an error by third baseman Jeimer Candelario. The Indians eventually loaded the bases, and with two outs and José Ramírez batting, Bryan Garcia (0-1) threw a wild pitch that scored Miller and put Cleveland up 4-3.

Ramírez walked, and Eddie Rosario's bases-loaded single off Daniel Norris brought home two more runs.

Jean Carlos Mejía (1-0) pitched a scoreless sixth for his first major league win. Three more Cleveland relievers succeeded...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Luplow-s-catch-preserves-Indians-6-5-win-over-16200610.php