Cleveland Indians: Bats explode, Indians pull into first place tie

The Cleveland Indians offense exploded for 14 runs Friday as they took game one of their three-game weekend set in St. Louis.

The Cleveland Indians broke their season-high for runs scored Friday as the Tribe’s offense exploded for 14 runs in a 14-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in the first of a three-game series at Busch Stadium.

The Indians offense wasted no time attacking Cardinals starting pitcher Daniel Ponce de Leon. In the top of the first Cleveland struck for four runs as Jose Ramirez scored on a Yadier Molina throwing error and Franmil Reyes smacked a 428-foot three-run home run to give the Tribe a 4-0 lead.

Cleveland used the long ball to extend their lead further in the top of the second as Carlos Santana delivered a two-run shot to put the Indians on top 6-0.

St. Louis would get those two runs back in the bottom half of the inning as Dexter Fowler took Triston McKenzie deep to cut the Cleveland lead to 6-2.

McKenzie tossed four innings that saw him allow two runs in his second career start, walk three and strikeout three as he took a no-decision.

In the top of the fifth, the Indians pushed their lead back to six as Tyler Naquin delivered his first home run of the season with a two-run shot to make it an 8-2 ball game.

Cleveland continued to pour it on in the top of the sixth as Reyes ripped a two-run single, Roberto Perez hit a one-run single and hit a two-run double to make it a 12-2 game. In the top of the seventh, the Indians added two more as Yu Chang plated a run with a ground ball and Jordan Luplow delivered a sacrifice fly to push the lead to 14-2.

Twelve runs of support would be more than enough for the Indians bullpen as the Tribe closed out a 14-2 victory.

With the win, the Indians are now in a three-way tie with the Twins and White Sox for first place in the AL Central as all three clubs are 20-12 on the year. Cleveland also became just the sixth team to earn their 20th win so far this season joining the White Sox, Minnesota, A’s (22), Rays (22) and Dodgers (24).

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On Deck: The Indians will look to clinch a series victory over the Cardinals Saturday when they send Carlos Carrasco to the mound to face off with St. Louis ace Jack Flaherty. First pitch is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. EST from Busch Stadium.