With a chance to gain a game in the AL Central Division standings, Indians closer Brad Hand blew his third straight save on Wednesday in a 4-3 loss to the Mets in New York.
The loss dropped the Indians (74-52) three games behind Minnesota in the AL Central with the Twins leading late in their game against the White Sox.
In July, the Cleveland Indians pitcher announced he had been diagnosed with leukemia. His last appearance in a game setting prior to a scoreless inning in Akron Monday night was May 30.
Backup Mike Freeman’s three-run home run and 10 strikeouts by starter Mike Clevinger led the Tribe to an 8-4 win on Sunday in New York.
The Yankees hit four home runs to beat the Cleveland Indians, 6-5, at Yankee Stadium on Saturday.
The Indians (73-50) managed just four hits — two on solo home runs by Jose Ramirez and Yasiel Puig — in a 3-2 loss Friday at Yankee Stadium in New York.
Jose Ramirez hit a grand slam and two-run homer in his first two at-bats Thursday night as the Indians hung a 19-5 shiner on the Yankees in the Bronx.
The Tribe (72-49) remained a half-game behind Minnesota in the AL Central race with Wednesday’s 5-1 loss vs. Boston at Progressive Field in Cleveland.
The Indians, trailing 6-1 at one time, came back to tie it in the ninth, but a home run by the Red Sox in the 10th gave Boston a 7-6 win on Tuesday at Progressive Field.
For the second straight game, All-Star closer Brad Hand blew a save, but All-Star starter Carlos Santana hit a game-winning home run as the Indians topped the Boston Red Sox on Monday in Cleveland.
The March 26 opener is the earliest date for a home game in Indians history. The average late-March temperature in Cleveland is 34 degrees.
Carlos Santana’s 10th-inning grand slam spurred the Tribe (71-47) to a 7-3 win on Sunday over the Twins. Cleveland won three of the four games in Minneapolis to head home with a tie for first in the AL Central.
The Indians had several opportunities to score but couldn’t cash in during Saturday’s 4-1 loss at Minnesota. The Twins lead the Tribe by one game in the AL Central Division.
Shane Bieber, with the help of a methodical offense, pitched the Indians into a first-place tie in the AL Central with a 6-2 win over the Twins Friday night at Target Field.
The Cleveland bullpen nearly coughed up a 6-2 lead handed to it by starter Mike Clevinger, but the Tribe held on for a 7-5 win on Thursday to move within a game of Minnesota.
