CLEVELAND, Ohio — Next time the Cleveland Indians take the field in 2020, the 60-game sprint to the playoffs will be underway. Manager Terry Francona and the Indians wrapped up summer exhibition play Wednesday with a 5-3 win against Pittsburgh at PNC Park. Friday’s season opener against Kansas City is next on the agenda.
But first, Francona and the Indians completed a three-game exhibition sweep of the Pirates behind five strong innings by righty Aaron Civale. Francona praised Civale’s maturity and his readiness since summer camp opened three weeks ago.
“He’s been good,” Francona said. “He pitches beyond his years, which we really like.”
The top five hitters in Cleveland’s lineup combined to go 7-for-15 through the first five innings, including a pair of home runs with Cesar Hernandez, Jose Ramirez and Carlos Santana each collecting a pair of hits.
Santana opened the scoring with an RBI single in the first and added his third exhibition home run of the year on a line drive to left in the third against Pittsburgh starter Derek Holland.
“I took a good swing at an inside pitch,” Santana said. “I know Holland and how he likes to attack me. The first at-bat he threw a couple of sliders. For me, my focus was on good contact and thinking in the middle.”
Santana said the club’s energy is high as training camp wraps up, and that the players are eager to finally open the regular season on Friday against Kansas City.
“We’re ready,” Santana said. “We’ve been working hard during the last three weeks. I’m ready to roll.”
Franmil Reyes added an RBI single in the first and Jose Ramirez’s solo home run in the fifth off reliever Kyle Crick gave the Indians a two-run advantage.
Civale allowed four hits and did not walk a batter in five innings (79 pitches). His only mistake was a high 0-2 fastball that Pirates slugger Josh Bell launched to right field for a two-run homer that tied the score in the bottom of the first.
Afterward, the 25-year-old said it was good to finally face a lineup that didn’t have “Cleveland” on the front of its jerseys.
“The feel was a little more game-like,” Civale said. “It was good to get back out there and go compete again.”
Adam Plutko, who moved to the bullpen earlier this week after the No. 5 spot in the starting rotation went to Zach Plesac, pitched a scoreless inning in relief of Civale in the sixth. Francona said one of his goals was to get Plutko some work out of the bullpen Wednesday.
“It was good for him,” Francona said. “His fastball played up a little bit, which is nice to see. And now when he comes into a game it won’t be his first time relieving.”
Closer Brad Hand allowed a run on two hits, including an RBI double by Jerrod Dyson in the seventh. But Hand struck out the side, getting Kevin Newman on a slider to end the inning. Adam Cimber worked a scoreless eighth inning, striking out Andrew Susac on a slider.
Christian Arroyo added a solo home run in the ninth against Pirates lefty Miguel Del Pozo to put the Indians back up by a pair.
James Karinchak walked two batters in the ninth, but struck out Socrates Brito on a 96.1 mph fastball and got Ji-Hwan Bae to pop out to shortstop Yu Chang for his first exhibition save. Francona said the Indians will have to be patient while Karinchak’s command develops.
“His stuff is so good, as he develops and matures, you’re going to see a really good pitcher,” Francona said. “There’s going to be some times we’re going to have to put our seat belts on and be patient because he’s going to lose the plate from time to time.”
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