Major League Baseball

Kipnis' 2-run HR in 9th gives Indians 10-8 win over Rangers

Published May. 17, 2015 12:02 a.m. ET

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ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) Jason Kipnis kept up his strong hitting this month with another big night.

Kipnis had three hits, including a tiebreaking two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning that lifted the Cleveland Indians to a 10-8 victory over the Texas Rangers.

The Indians have won consecutive games for the first time since their season opening series at Houston.

Kipnis, the American League's leading hitter this month, has an eight-game hitting streak and has 10 multi-hit games in May. Since moving into the leadoff spot on April 26, Kipnis is hitting .425.

''Everything's just going right for me,'' Kipnis said. ''I know it's not going to last. I'm not going to keep this up the whole season. Right now I've got my approach where I want it. I'm balanced, and I'm seeing the ball well. So, I'm trying to ride it out as long as I can.''

On the winning home run off Texas closer Neftali Feliz (1-2), Kipnis pulled a 95-mph fastball into the right-field stands, standing briefly at the plate as the ball sailed out.

''It felt great,'' he said. ''Something like that's always going to feel great.''

Indians manager Terry Francona said he doesn't think the move to the leadoff spot has had a great impact on Kipnis' hitting.

''We've seen him get hot before like this,'' Francona said. ''He's seeing the ball and using the whole field.''

Scott Atchison (1-1) picked up the win despite allowing a home run to Robinson Chirinos in the bottom of the eighth that put Texas ahead 8-7. Cody Allen got the last three outs for his sixth save.

The Indians tied it in the ninth on Jose Ramirez's run-scoring grounder, and Kipnis put them ahead with his homer - the major league-leading 19th against Texas relievers this season.

The Indians staked Salazar to a three-run lead in the first inning, highlighted by an RBI double by Michael Bourn, but Salazar lasted only 4 2/3 innings, giving up seven runs, five earned, on nine hits.

Cleveland's six pitchers included Austin Adams, who was brought up from Triple-A Columbus on Saturday after veteran Bruce Chen was designated for assignment.

AVILES UPDATE

Indians INF Mike Aviles is scheduled to return to the team on Monday in Chicago. Aviles has missed the nine games while his 4-year-old daughter, Adriana, has been treated for leukemia.

FLUKE PLAYS

Texas' Elvis Andrus scored on a steal of second base in the fifth inning when the throw by catcher Jose Ramirez struck Andrus and caromed into left field ... Ramirez reached in the eighth inning on a throwing error by Rangers second baseman Tommy Field but rounded the bag too far and was tagged out after the play was by backed up by Chirinos.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Indians: LHP T.J. House (left shoulder inflammation) is expected to pitch five innings with Columbus in his next rehab outing after pitching three hitless innings Friday night for Low-A Lake County. ... C Yan Gomes (right knee sprain) was scheduled to DH Saturday night for Lake County after catching three innings for Lake County on Friday.

Rangers: CF Leonys Martin (sore left wrist) returned to the lineup after missing three games. He went 0 for 4 with a strikeout.

UP NEXT

Indians: RHP Carlos Carrasco (4-3) goes for his first career victory over Texas in his third start and fifth career appearance against the Rangers.

Texas RHP Nick Martinez (2-0) has struggled in May (4.24 ERA in three winless starts) after dominating in April (major league-leading 0.35 ERA in four starts). In his only career start against Cleveland, Martinez allowed eight earned runs in two innings last June.

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