Seven-run fourth carries Indians past Reds

CLEVELAND -- It was the kind of rally that catches everyone's attention.

"That was impressive," Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona said. "We just kept extending the inning. It was fun to watch."

Not for the Cincinnati Reds. But for the Indians, the bottom of the fourth inning was an explosion of fun and runs as the Indians scored seven times en route to a 7-1 victory on Thursday night at Progressive Field.

The rally featured six consecutive two-out RBI hits and it was enough to give the Indians their second consecutive win at home against their interleague, in-state rivals. The Reds won the two games played between the teams on Monday and Tuesday in Cincinnati.

Indians starter Scott Kazmir (3-2), in his longest outing in more than three years, worked seven innings and held the Reds to one run on eight hits, with five strikeouts. He last pitched seven innings for the Angels against St. Louis on May 22, 2010.

"You could tell right from his first pitch that he had his good stuff," Francona said. "He was locating his fastball so well and he was so aggressive that it set everything else up."

The only run allowed by Kazmir came in the sixth, when Brandon Phillips doubled and scored on a single by Jay Bruce. Kazmir threw 93 pitches in the game, 66 for strikes.

"Everything was working, and I was able to attack the zone," said Kazmir, who is 3-0 with a 3.68 ERA in four starts at Progressive Field this season.

Reds starter Homer Bailey, who was unable to get the third out in Cleveland's seven-run fourth, took the loss.

Bailey gave up five consecutive two-out RBI hits in the seven-run Cleveland fourth, which actually included six consecutive RBI hits by Cleveland hitters. In 3 2/3 innings, Bailey allowed seven runs and seven hits as his record fell to 3-4 and his ERA rose from 3.08 to 3.84.

Bailey and three relievers combined to hold the Indians scoreless on four hits in the other seven innings. But that one inning proved to be too much for the Reds to overcome.

Bailey retired nine of the first 11 batters he faced, holding Cleveland scoreless on one hit through three innings.

But in the fourth, Bailey barely got anyone out.

Bailey started the inning by hitting Asdrubal Cabrera. Nick Swisher struck out, but Carlos Santana singled Cabrera to second. Mark Reynolds struck out, so Bailey was one out from a scoreless inning.

But then came the onslaught of two-out RBI hits. Michael Brantley singled, Yan Gomes singled, Ryan Raburn doubled, Michael Bourn doubled, Jason Kipnis singled and Cabrera, in his second at-bat of the inning, doubled.

All those hits drove in runs. Bailey was removed from the game after Kipnis' RBI single. The last RBI hit came against reliever Alfredo Simon.

"It seemed like Brantley opened the door with his two-out knock and everyone followed him," Raburn said.

Reds manager Dusty Baker said, "It's been a long time since I've seen a team get six straight two-out hits. We were hoping Homer could get us through the inning, but give them credit."

Bailey said, "Right up until they had two outs, I was throwing the ball really well and felt really good. But all of a sudden, we just couldn't close the door."

The Indians this season have scored a major league-high 119 runs with two outs. With two outs and runners in scoring position Raburn is hitting .667 (8 for 12), Bourn .462 (6 for 13), and Brantley .400 (10 for 25).

NOTES: Corey Kluber, who will start for the Indians at home against Tampa Bay on Friday night, has yet to win a home game in his career. In 12 career appearances, nine of them starts, at Progressive Field, Kluber is 0-6 with a 4.99 ERA. ... After leading the American League in hitting with a .389 average in April, Santana went into Thursday's game hitting .204 (19 of 93) in May. ... Bruce's double in the second inning was his 18th of the season. He came into the game tied with the New York Mets' David Murphy for the National League with 17.