Former UCSB standout Shane Bieber turned in another stellar performance to remain undefeated for the Cleveland Indians.
Bieber allowed two runs over six innings to lead the Indians to a 4-2 win over the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night at Progressive Field in Cleveland. The talented right-hander struck out 10 and allowed four hits and three walks to improve to 6-0 for the season. Bieber’s record combined with his 1.35 earned run average makes him the Indians’ first pitcher to win six games without a loss to start a season, and have an ERA under 1.50 since Cliff Lee in 2008.
Bieber allowed two runs in the second inning, which at the time gave the Twins a 2-1 lead. But Francisco Lindor’s two-run homer and a pinch-hit, run-scoring single by Tyler Naquin in the sixth inning gave the Tribe the lead for good.
Bieber pitched at UCSB from 2014-16. He led the Gauchos to the program’s first College World Series appearance in 2016. Cleveland improved to 18-12 while Minnesota fell to 20-11.
In other Major League Baseball news, Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito tossed a no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Chicago. Giolito, who is from Santa Monica and attended Harvard-Westlake High, struck out 13 and allowed no runs with one walk in tossing the 19th no-hitter in White Sox history. Giolito is the first pitcher in franchise history to throw a no-hitter with at least 10 strikeouts. His catcher was former Dos Pueblos High star James McCann.
The Angels split a doubleheader with the Houston Astros, losing the opener, 6-3, and winning the nightcap, 12-5. Brian Goodwin drove in three runs in the second game for the Angels, who snapped a three-game losing streak.
At press time, the Dodgers and San Francisco Giants were 6-6 and headed into extra innings.
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