SEATTLE -- For the second straight night, the light-hitting Indians got the better of the hard-hitting Mariners. You never really know about baseball, do you?

Shane Bieber, working his way around control issues and errors, pitched six good innings and the offense produced four two-out runs to hand Seattle its fifth straight loss, 4-2, on another cold Tuesday night at T-Mobile Park.

Bieber (2-0, 1.71) walked three batters, matching his total from his first three starts of the season, but allowed just one run. He pitched over errors by third baseman Jose Ramirez and shortstop Mike Freeman, but still worked into the seventh inning before being removed following a leadoff double by Tom Murphy.

Maybe it had something to do with Bieber being on the road. He’s 9-0 in 13 road starts since his big-league debut last year. The last MLB pitcher to win his first nine road decisions is Boston’s Earl Wilson in 1962.

Or maybe it was just baseball being baseball. The Mariners entered the game leading the AL in homers and runs and ranked second in batting average. The Indians entered ranked last in batting average and 14th in runs and homers.

“I thought Shane battled,” said manager Terry Francona. “I didn’t think it was his best command, but man he battled.”

Mike Leake (2-1, 3.86) usually pitches well against the Indians and Tuesday night was no exception. The Indians took a 2-1 lead against him in the fourth, but it took consecutive two-out hits by Carlos Santana and Hanley Ramirez. Leonys Martin opened the inning with a single, but was thrown out trying to steal second. Jose Ramirez followed with a single to left center, but he was forced at second by Jason Kipnis. Santana doubled to the wall in right center to score Kipnis from first to make it a 1-1 game.

The double gave Santana a .750 (6-for-8) batting average with eight RBI with two out and runners in scoring position. Hanley Ramirez then singled to center to score Santana for a 2-1 lead. He came into the game hitting .500 (6-for-12) with six RBI against Leake.

“I just don’t try to do too much,” said Santana. “I try to make contact. I mean RBI are good for my team and good for me. My approach is stay in the middle of the field, get my pitch and make good contact."

The Indians made it 4-1 with two runs in the seventh after lefty Roenis Elias replaced Leake. As they did in the fourth, they scored both runs with two out.

Tyler Naquin started the inning with a single. Elias retired Jake Bauers and Kevin Plawecki on fly balls to left, but not before balking Naquin to second. Freeman, promoted from Class AAA Columbus to replace slumping Eric Stamets, blooped a single into left to score Naquin for a 3-1 lead. Martin followed with a double to left center to score pinch-runner Max Moroff. It was Martin’s third hit of the night and his second three-hit effort in the last three games.

“I thought Naquin’s hit set that whole inning up,” said Francona.

The Mariners, as they did in Monday’s 6-4 loss, used their power for a late threat. Former Indian Jay Bruce homered with two out in the eighth off Neil Ramirez. It was Bruce’s eighth homer of the season. The Indians came into the game with 12 as a team.

Brad Hand, making his third appearance in as many days, pitched the ninth for his sixth save. He gave up a one-out double to Murphy, but was helped by good plays from right fielder Greg Allen and Kipnis for the final two outs.

Bieber had trouble getting the ball down in the strike zone early in the game. After retiring the first two batters in the second, he issued consecutive walks to Tim Beckham and Ryon Healy. Murphy singled to left for a 1-0 lead.

He was at his best in the fifth when Seattle speedsters Dee Gordon opened with a walk and Mallex Smith reached on a bunt just out of the reach of the diving Bieber. Mitch Haniger went down on a fly ball to left and Plawecki threw out Gordon on an attempted steal of third. Bieber closed the inning by striking out Domingo Santana, MLB’s RBI leader.

“The fifth inning things could have really gone south,” said Bieber. “But Kevin (Plawecki) had a great catch and throw to third base and we were able to get the strikeout after that. There were just various situations where we were able to climb back out of it. That’s what good teams do.”

NEXT

The Indians end this three-game series and nine-game trip Wednesday night at 6:40 p.m. ET when Carlos Carrasco (1-2, 12.60) faces Seattle right-hander Erik Swanson (0-0, 9.00). Swanson is replacing injured lefty Wade LeBlanc. SportsTime Ohio, WTAM and WMMS will carry the game.

Carrasco lost his last start, allowing six runs on six hits in just two-thirds of an inning against the Royals on Friday at Kauffman Stadium. He went 1-1 with a 9.35 ERA against the Mariners last year. The Indians are 4-4 on this trip.

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