CLEVELAND (AP) — Eric Lauer no-hit Cleveland into the sixth inning a day after Milwaukee threw a history-making no-no, his teammates belted five homers and the Brewers beat the Indians 11-1 on Sunday.
Just hours after Corbin Burnes and Josh Hader combined on the record ninth no-hitter in the majors this season — and Cleveland’s record third time being no-hit this year — Lauer threatened to make it two in a row.
Lauer, a native of Northeast Ohio, didn’t give up a hit until Ryan Lavarnway singled to center with one out in the sixth. Lavarnway, the Indians’ backup catcher, lined a 1-2 pitch into center field.
Óscar Mercado followed with a single and Myles Straw’s single scored Lavarnway. Brewers manager Craig Counsell removed Lauer, who received a nice ovation as he walked to the dugout. Brad Boxberger struck out the next two hitters.
Lauer (6-5) allowed one run and three hits while throwing 88 pitches in 5 1/3 innings.
Kolten Wong and Avisaíl García each homered twice. Manny Piña also connected, and the Brewers moved closer to the NL Central title with a three-game sweep.
Lauer attended Midview High School, located about 30 miles west of Cleveland, and pitched at Kent State. He wasn’t scheduled to pitch in the series but was moved up when scheduled starter Brandon Woodruff came down with a stomach flu Saturday.
Lauer walked Harold Ramirez with one out in the second but picked him off first base. He retired the next 11 hitters before giving up his first hit.
Center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. was busy in the third on drives to the wall on consecutive batters. Bradley got in front of the wall and camped under leadoff hitter Owen Miller’s high fly ball. Bradley followed that with a leaping catch on Lavarnway’s drive that appeared to be headed for the wall.
Wong homered on the fourth pitch of the game from Aaron Civale. García and Piña hit home runs in the third. Wong homered to lead off the eighth and García hit a two-run shot that landed in the left field bleachers and traveled 464 feet.
Civale (10-4) allowed seven runs in three innings. The right-hander made his second start since missing six weeks because of a sprained middle finger on his right hand.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Brewers: 1B Rowdy Tellez (strained right patella) was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday. He injured his knee running the bases Saturday and underwent an MRI.
Indians: RHP Shane Bieber (strained right shoulder) will throw 40 to 45 pitches on a minor league rehab assignment Tuesday at Triple-A Columbus. The 2020 AL Cy Young winner has been sidelined since June 13.
UP NEXT
Brewers: Milwaukee opens a three-game series in Detroit on Tuesday after being off Monday. RHP Freddy Peralta (9-4, 2.69 ERA) will start the opener.
Indians: Cleveland is off Monday. RHP Triston McKenzie (4-6, 4.44 ERA) and LHP Logan Allen (1-6, 6.86 ERA) are scheduled to start a day-night doubleheader Tuesday in Minnesota.
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