Raburn's hot bat for Indians cools off Phillies 6-0

CLEVELAND -- The only thing hotter than the Cleveland Indians is their right fielder.

Ryan Raburn went 4-for-5 to extend his blistering pace to 12-for-14 over the past four games, as the Indians beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-0 Wednesday night, Cleveland's fourth win in a row.

Raburn, who made the team in spring training as a non-roster player, fills a utility role on the roster. The last four games he has played right field and has been a major headache for opposing pitchers.

Raburn on Wednesday had three singles, a double, and two RBIs to pace a 14-hit attack by the Indians, who have outscored their opponents 39-5 during their winning streak. During his 12-for-14 four-game run, Raburn has one double, four home runs and nine RBIs.

"When you plug a guy into the lineup and he gets that hot, it's such an added bonus," said Indians manager Terry Francona. "You can't just flip a switch, but he's been so hot, we've hit him all over the order, and he's played good defense."

Cleveland starter Trevor Bauer (1-1) pitched five scoreless innings on one hit and beat former Indians Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee (2-2).

Cleveland has now beaten four Cy Young Award winners this year: R.A. Dickey, David Price, Roy Halladay and Lee. The wins over Halladay and Lee came on consecutive nights in the two-game series. The Indians outscored the Phillies in the two games 20-2 and out-hit them 31-8.

Philadelphia came to Cleveland after sweeping a three-game series from the Mets in New York.

"We had a good series with the Mets, then the Indians beat up on us the two games here. They took it to us pretty good," said Phillies manager Charlie Manuel.

"They pretty much crushed us both games," said Lee. "We need to have a little more pride than that and make it more competitive."

It's been a remarkable offensive turnaround for the Indians, who were held to three runs or fewer in 14 of their first 21 games.

Bauer, who combined with four relievers on a three-hitter, was called up from Class AAA Columbus earlier in the day and was making his second start of the season for the Indians, his first at Progressive Field. In his first start, April 6 in Tampa Bay, the rookie walked four batters in the first inning and seven overall in five innings in a 6-0 loss.

He was equally wild but more effective Wednesday, holding the Phillies hitless until Dominic Brown's two-out single in the fourth inning. Bauer walked six, but he also struck out five and only allowed the one hit.

"When he had traffic on the bases he made unbelievable pitches, throwing his fastball and his off speed pitches," said Francona. "He attacked hitters with really good stuff. That's real stuff. And what goes under the radar is how much of a competitor he is."

The win was the second of Bauer's major league career. The other win came while pitching for Arizona on July 8 of last year when he beat the Dodgers. In his two starts with the Indians, Bauer has walked 13 batters in 10 innings but only one of those 13 wound up scoring.

"I lock in more when there are guys on base," said Bauer. "I'm a very competitive person and I don't like to give up runs."

Although he has given up 13 walks in his two starts for the Indians, Bauer has also held opposing batters to a .097 batting average (3-for-31).

"I'm starting to get more comfortable up here," he said. "Tonight I had everything working at certain points, but not everything at the same time."

The Indians took an early 4-0 lead. Mike Aviles' sacrifice fly in the second inning put Cleveland on top. In the third, Asdrubal Cabrera hit a two-run double into the left field corner, and Cabrera later scored on an infield single by Ryan Raburn, giving Cleveland a 4-0 lead.

Raburn's RBI double in the fifth made it 5-0, and Drew Stubbs added a run-scoring single in the seventh.

Michael Brantley had three hits for the Indians. Brown collected two of Philadelphia's three hits.

NOTES: Cleveland optioned LHP Nick Hagadone to Triple-A Columbus in order to clear a roster spot for Bauer, who was recalled from the minors to make the start. ... Indians C Carlos Santana finished April with an American League-leading .389 average. ... Delmon Young's home run Tuesday in his first at-bat of the season made him the first player to homer in his first at-bat with the Phillies since Hector Luna on May 16, 2012. ... Lee's start Wednesday was his first vs. Cleveland, the only team in the majors he had never faced.