CLEVELAND (AP) — Matt Carpenter hit a two-run homer off reliever Marc Rzepczynski in the eighth inning after Cleveland replaced starter Trevor Bauer, rallying the St. Louis Cardinals to a 2-1 win over the Indians on Thursday.
Bauer blanked St. Louis on four hits over 7 1-3 innings before giving up a one-out walk. Indians manager Terry Francona brought in the left-handed Rzepczynski (1-1) to face Carpenter, a lefty, who had struck out in his three previous at-bats.
Carpenter drove a 2-1 pitch over the wall in right-center to help the Cardinals win the series after being overpowered by Corey Kluber on Wednesday night.
It’s the first homer Rzepczynski has given up to a left-handed hitter since June 12, 2012, when he was with the Cardinals.
Kevin Siegrist (2-0) pitched two scoreless innings, and Trevor Rosenthal put the tying run on with one out in the ninth before striking out pinch-hitter Zach Walters and Jason Kipnis for his 12th save.