(SportsNetwork.com) - The Cleveland Indians, who have more wins on the road than they do at home, try to add to that total on Saturday as they once again clash with the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington.
The Indians, winners of just six games in 18 attempts at Progressive Field, are 7-9 everywhere else after posting an 8-3 victory in the first of a three- game set against Texas on Friday.
Of the 12 hits registered by the Tribe, four came from Jason Kipnis while Michael Brantley and Nick Swisher each supplied three, the latter two combining to knock in five runs while Kipnis scored three times for the visitors.
A total of six pitchers combined to finish off Texas, as starter Bruce Chen made it through only 2 1/3 innings, giving up three runs on seven hits, two of those being home runs. Ryan Webb was credited with the win as he struck out two in two innings.
"We'll take wins anywhere we can get them," Indians manager Terry Francona noted. "We fought hard tonight. We did some good things. Now we show up tomorrow and see if we can do it again."
Unfortunately for the Indians, even with the win they are still all alone at the bottom of the AL Central standings, nine game out of contention while dealing with one of the worst run differentials (minus-18) in the league.
On the other side, the Rangers saw starter Wandy Rodriguez saddled with the loss after he permitted five runs on eight hits and a walk over 4 2/3 innings.
Prince Fielder and Adrian Beltre supplied some fireworks for the hosts, who are now fourth in the American League West standings, as they both went deep.
For Beltre, it was the 400th home run of his career.
Beltre is now the 52nd member of the 400 home run club and is one of only four players in that group, joining Mike Schmidt, Eddie Mathews and Chipper Jones, to have connected on at least 75 percent of his total while playing third base.
Coming off his strongest outing of the season, right-hander Danny Salazar takes the mound for the Indians for tonight's contest. Salazar, who is in his third year with Cleveland, picked up his fourth win of 2015 on Sunday as he made it through seven innings by allowing just a single run on a solo home run versus Minnesota. He also tied his season high with 11 strikeouts and refrained from walking a single batter.
This will be the second all-time appearance for Salazar versus Texas, having picked up a victory in the only other matchup.
Meanwhile, right-hander Colby Lewis guns for his third straight victory and his fourth of the season when he takes the ball for the Rangers. Lewis, who has a 2-1 career mark with a lofty 6.37 ERA in six all-time appearances versus Cleveland, has won his last two outings after going through a four-game drought.
On Monday Lewis lasted seven full innings against Kansas City, permitting just a single run on three hits and a couple walks, striking out five.
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