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Kipnis leads Indians past Rangers

Jun 13, 2013 - 4:34 AM Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Jason Kipnis and Mike Aviles homered, and the Cleveland Indians beat the Texas Rangers, 5-2, in the rubber match of a three- game series.

Ubaldo Jimenez (5-4) allowed four hits and a run over five-plus frames for the Indians, who won their first series of at least three contests since sweeping a four-game set from Seattle, May 17-20. Cleveland had lost eight straight games until posting a 5-2 win Tuesday night.

Kipnis went 3-for-5 in the finale of this set. Michael Brantley had a pair of hits and drove in a run to help the Indians win their first series in Arlington since sweeping a three-game set Aug. 22-24, 2008.

Nick Tepesch (3-6) yielded eight hits and five runs over five innings for the Rangers, who lost for the fifth time in seven games.

"When he got the ball over the plate they put some good swings on it and didn't miss it," Rangers manager Ron Washington said.

Leonys Martin homered in the third inning for the Rangers.

Brantley singled to left field in the opening frame, but Michael Bourn was cut down at the plate by left fielder David Murphy to end the inning.

Jason Giambi was hit by a pitch with two outs in the second, and Aviles followed by taking a 2-0 pitch over the wall in left field.

Brantley singled to right field to drive in Bourn in the third for a 3-0 difference, but Martin homered to right to start the bottom of the inning.

Kipnis lined a homer to right on the first pitch of the fifth inning. After Brantley walked with one out, Carlos Santana doubled down the right field line to increase the margin to 5-1.

Jimenez was lifted after giving up a walk to Lance Berkman and a single to Adrian Beltre to begin the bottom of the sixth. The Rangers wasted an opportunity with men at the corners when Brian Shaw retired the final two batters.

"Ubaldo got us to a point where it was manageable," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "Shaw was very good. Anytime you limit them to one or two runs, you're doing something pretty good."

Vinnie Pestano opened the bottom of the ninth with a 15-pitch at-bat to Jeff Baker, who grounded out to second baseman Kipnis on a close play. With two outs, Martin reached base on an infield single. Jurickson Profar doubled to right field to trim the deficit, but Murphy flied out to center to end the game.

Game Notes

Tepesch is 0-3 over his last five starts ... Profar had three of Texas' seven hits ... The Rangers left nine men on base, one more than Cleveland.