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Aviles, Indians rout Rangers

Aug 2, 2014 - 6:42 AM Cleveland, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - Mike Aviles drove in three runs and scored twice as the Cleveland Indians' offense erupted for a 12-2 victory over the Texas Rangers in the opener of a three-game set on Friday.

David Murphy finished 4-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored and Michael Brantley supplied three hits and drove in two runs for the Indians, who have won three straight games against the Rangers.

Danny Salazar (4-4) gave up four hits, three walks and an unearned run with four strikeouts over six innings to win his third straight start.

"We haven't had very many games like that," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "We've played so many close games. It's really good to have some breathing room for a night."

Rougned Odor and Elvis Andrus each drove in a run for Texas, which has dropped four of its last six. Starter Jerome Williams (2-5) was roughed up in his second start of the season, giving up 10 runs on 13 hits and three walks across four-plus frames.

"Not executing, that was basically it," said Williams. "When I did execute, they found holes."

Cleveland opened the scoring in the first. Aviles reached on a fielder's choice with one out and came home on Brantley's double to deep left.

Texas threatened in the second. Adrian Beltre and Jim Adduci got aboard with walks to open the frame. After J.P. Arencibia struck out and Leonys Martin popped out, Robinson Chirinos singled to right and Murphy threw out Beltre at home to end the frame.

Aviles walked to open the third, moved to second on Brantley's single and scored on Carlos Santana's base hit up the middle. Brantley came home after Lonnie Chisenhall grounded into a double play.

Back-to-back RBI singles from Aviles and Brantley made it a 5-0 game in the fourth.

Chirinos doubled to lead off the fifth, moved to third on Murphy's fielding error in right and came home on Odor's groundout to get the Rangers on the board.

The Indians responded with runs in the bottom half of the inning. Santana walked before Chisenhall and Nick Swisher both singled to load the bases with no outs. Yan Gomes' single up the middle plated Santana, and Murphy followed with a two-run double to the left-field corner, ending Williams' outing.

Two batters later, Jason Kipnis walked to reload the bases and Gomes scored on Nate Adcock's wild pitch. Aviles followed with an RBI single for an 11-1 advantage.

Chisenhall spoiled reliever Phil Klein's major-league debut by crushing a 2-1 slider over the right-field wall to open the sixth.

Andrus' RBI single up the middle with two outs in the ninth capped the scoring.

Game Notes

Prior to the game, Cleveland designated pitcher Zach McAllister for assignment and recalled outfielder Tyler Holt from Triple-A Columbus ... Texas purchased the contract of Klein from Triple-A Round Rock and designated pitcher Ryan Feierabend for assignment ... Gomes extended his hitting streak to eight games ... Andrus has hit in eight straight games. He has also hit safely in 41 of 42 career games against the Indians ... Cleveland has won nine of its last 10 meetings against Texas ... The Indians outhit the Rangers, 16-9.