Indians beat Phillies 5-2, remain 2nd in AL wild card

Carlos Carrasco got his first save in five years, and the Cleveland Indians beat Philadelphia 5-2 Friday night to maintain position for the second AL wild card and damage the Phillies' playoff chances.

Cleveland's fifth straight win eliminated the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox from postseason contention. No team has repeated since the New York Yankees won three in a row from 1998-2000.

Cleveland (91-63) began the night tied with Tampa Bay for the second wild card, two games behind Oakland. The Indians were four games behind AL Central-leading Minnesota.

Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Shane Bieber delivers in the first inning of the team's baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Friday, Sept. 20, 2019, in Cleveland. (AP PhotoTony Dejak)

Philadelphia began the night three games behind Milwaukee for the second NL wild card and lost for the fourth time in six games.

All-Star MVP Shane Bieber (15-7) allowed two runs and seven hits in 7 1/3 innings with seven strikeouts and no walks.

Carrasco retired Jay Bruce with two on to end the eighth and pitched a perfect ninth for his second big league save, his first since June 16, 2014 against the Los Angeles Angels. Carrasco was diagnosed with leukemia in June and made his eighth appearance with the Indians since returning Sept. 1.

Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Shane Bieber throws out Philadelphia Phillies' Andrew Knapp at first base during the third inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 20, 2019, in Cleveland. (AP PhotoTony Dejak)

Rookie Oscar Mercado had RBI singles in the first and seventh. Yasiel Puig, Francisco Lindor and Carlos Santana also drove in runs, helping Cleveland to its fifth straight win

Drew Smyly (4-7) allowed four runs, five hits and three walks in two-plus innings. The left-hander gave up five hits, walked three and was pulled following a leadoff walk to Puig in the third.

Makiel Franco hit a two-run double in the fifth.

Cleveland Indians' Francisco Lindor, left, and Yasiel Puig celebrate after the Indians defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 5-2 in a baseball game Friday, Sept. 20, 2019, in Cleveland. (AP PhotoTony Dejak)

Puig fouled a ball off his lower left leg in the sixth. He went to the ground but remained in the game after talking with manager Terry Francona and a team athletic trainer.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Phillies: SS Jean Segura (sore ankle) was scratched from the lineup about an hour before game time. He was removed from Thursday's game in Atlanta after beating out an infield hit in the sixth inning.

Philadelphia Phillies' Maikel Franco fields a ball hit by Cleveland Indians' Roberto Perez during the seventh inning in a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 20, 2019, in Cleveland. Perez was out on the play. (AP PhotoTony Dejak)

Indians: Francona said he was stunned how well 3B José Ramírez looked Thursday in his first batting practice session since breaking his right hand last month. Ramírez, who had surgery Aug. 26, will take BP again Saturday. It's unclear if he will return before the regular season ends.

UP NEXT

Phillies: LHP Jason Vargas (9-5, 4.24 ERA) has pitched three innings in each of his last two starts, allowing nine runs — six earned — with nine strikeouts.

Cleveland Indians' Oscar Mercado catches a ball hit by Philadelphia Phillies' Jay Bruce during the fourth inning in a baseball game Friday, Sept. 20, 2019, in Cleveland. AP PhotoTony Dejak)

Indians: Rookie RHP Zach Plesac (8-6, 3.64 ERA) is coming off his first big league shutout, against the Los Angeles Angels.

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Philadelphia Phillies' Maikel Franco watches his two-run double during the fifth inning of the team's baseball game against the Cleveland Indians, Friday, Sept. 20, 2019, in Cleveland. (AP PhotoTony Dejak)