Napoli’s HR keys Tribe’s rout of NY

Published 11:46 pm Sunday, July 10, 2016

CLEVELAND (AP) — Mike Napoli hit one of five Cleveland home runs — a 462-foot blast that nearly hit the scoreboard in left field — and the Indians routed the New York Yankees 10-2 on Friday night.

Napoli’s two-run homer in the third inning landed near the top of the bleachers, a few feet below the scoreboard, for his 18th homer of the season.

Cleveland’s five home runs marked a season high, with three coming in the first inning. Jason Kipnis homered twice while Carlos Santana and Lonnie Chisenhall also hit home runs.

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All-Star Corey Kluber (9-8) allowed one run — Brian McCann’s solo homer — in eight innings.

Kluber gave up five hits, struck out eight and didn’t walk a batter.

Rookie Chad Green (1-2) allowed all four homers and was charged with seven runs in 4 1/3 innings.

Mark McGwire, playing for Oakland, is the only player to hit the scoreboard in the ballpark’s 22-year history on April 30, 1997. Jim Thome hit the longest home run, traveling 511 feet, on July 3, 1999.

The AL-Central leading Indians bounced back from Thursday’s 5-4 loss that ended when a replay review overturned a call that would have loaded the bases with two outs.

Cleveland left no doubt about Friday’s game.

Santana and Kipnis started the first with home runs, coming on Green’s first eight pitches. Chisenhall added a two-run homer.

Napoli’s fifth-inning single gave him three RBIs while Kipnis homered again in the seventh.

McCann homered in the sixth and had both RBIs for the Yankees, who are 3-5 on a 10-game trip going into the All-Star break.

Carlos Beltran, still nursing a sore hamstring, was 1 for 4 as the designated hitter while Alex Rodriguez didn’t play for the third straight game.

HOT TICKET

The crowd of 34,045 was the Indians’ third sellout and second of their seven-game homestand. The team is expecting near-sellouts Saturday and Sunday.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Indians: OF Michael Brantley (sore right shoulder) took batting practice for the second straight day and could begin a minor league rehab assignment during the All-Star break.

UP NEXT

Yankees: LHP CC Sabathia, who faces the Indians on Saturday, has struggled in his last three starts, allowing 17 runs, including four homers, in 17 1/3 innings. He’s 5-6 with a 3.48 ERA in 14 starts.

Indians: RHP Danny Salazar, an AL All-Star, makes his final start before the break Saturday. His 2.36 ERA is the best in the league and fourth lowest in the majors. Salazar is 10-3 in 15 starts.