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CINCINNATI -- For the first time in 44 years, an Indians pitcher had a single and a double. Yep, Josh Tomlin couldn't help but get in on Cleveland's four-day hitting splurge. Carlos Santana hit two two-run homers, and Tomlin stayed unbeaten by allowing only five hits while pitching into the eighth inning on Thursday night, leading the Indians to a 7-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds and the first sweep of their annual intrastate series. The Indians won two games in Cleveland and two at Great American Ball Park by outscoring the Reds 43-16. Neither team had swept the season series that started in 1997. Cleveland has won nine of the 10 games over the past two seasons. "We're positive," Santana said. "I see a lot of energy." Cleveland (21-17) moved a season-high four games over .500 with its fourth straight win, which also matches its season high. The Reds have dropped seven of eight and nine of 11. Tomlin (6-0) gave up Joey Votto's two-run homer and fanned seven in 7 2/3 innings. He also helped an offense that had its way with the Reds. Tomlin singled and doubled, the first Indians pitcher to do so since Steve Dunning in 1972. "It's fun to be part of the whole game, to get a chance to be on the bases and impact the game any way you can," said Tomlin, who played shortstop in college. Manager Terry Francona was impressed by how Tomlin pulled it all off. "I hate to say it because his head will be so big it won't be able to fit through the door, but that was pretty impressive," Francona said. "It's hard enough to get hits as a player, let alone somebody who hasn't been hitting. And then I started to get worried -- OK, he's a guy that hasn't run the bases, and he's sliding. It seemed like he got better." Santana connected in the fourth off Tim Adleman, who left the game a few pitches later with a strained left oblique. Santana hit his seventh homer the following inning off Caleb Cotham (0-3), the 34th homer allowed by the major leagues' worst bullpen. Rajai Davis had two RBI doubles and stole a base. Cleveland's leadoff hitter went 9 for 16 with three doubles, two homers, nine RBI and 10 runs scored during the series, earning the most outstanding player award. Francisco Lindor had 11 hits during the series, giving him 51 for the season. Adleman's injury is the latest setback to a rotation that already has five starters on the disabled list. Only two starters have lasted seven innings this season, putting a strain on the bullpen. "I'm out there trying to help us win, and I have to leave in the fourth inning," Adleman said. "That puts the bullpen and the team on the spot." During the four-game series, Reds pitchers retired the side in order only six times in 37 innings. OHIO SERIES The Indians lead the intrastate series 54-45, going 20-10 against the Reds since 2011. STATS It was Santana's sixth career two-homer game and his first since 2014. ... Tomlin is the first Indians pitcher to start 6-0 since Cliff Lee in 2008. ... The Reds allowed 43 runs in a four-game span for the first time since 2004. TRAINER'S ROOM Indians: Francona was going to give closer Cody Allen a day off after pitching two innings Wednesday night. Reds: RHP Anthony DeSclafani is scheduled to throw batting practice Friday. He's been on the DL since the start of the season with a strained oblique. He felt discomfort during a minor league rehab assignment and had to back off. UP NEXT Indians: Corey Kluber (2-5) will be working on five days' rest when he opens a series at Fenway Park. Kluber is 1/3 in eight career outings against Boston with a 5.14 ERA. Reds: Dan Straily (2-1) opens a weekend series against Seattle. Straily went 0-2 with a 6.20 ERA in five career starts against the Mariners when he was with Oakland. --- Follow Joe Kay on Twitter: http://twitter.com/apjoekay
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