Carlos Santana launches walk-off HR as Indians maintain AL Central lead

Joe Rodgers

Carlos Santana launches walk-off HR as Indians maintain AL Central lead image

Each night in the 2016 baseball season, we'll run down the top news, facts and highlights from action around Major League Baseball.

The Indians maintained their lead in the AL Central in dramatic fashion Friday against the White Sox.

After Indians closer Cody Allen blew his second save of the season in the top of the ninth, Carlos Santana credited Allen with the win by homering to lead off the bottom of the ninth for a 3-2 victory at Progressive Field. 

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Cleveland, which was in danger of losing its fourth straight, holds a half-game lead over reigning World Series champion Kansas City, which scored nine runs over the seventh and eighth innings to give them a 10-3 victory over the Tigers.

For Santana, the walk-off homer was the fourth of his career and his 14th home run of the season. 

Player of the day

Michael Saunders, Blue Jays: The outfielder enjoyed a career night at the plate, hammering three home runs for eight RBIs in a 13-3 blowout of the Red Sox. Saunders is batting .314/.389/.610 with 15 homers.

Highlight

Reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta struck out 11 Pittsburgh batters across six shutout frames in a 6-0 victory for his 11th win of the season. Here's all 11 strikeouts in 11 seconds. 

Three things to know

— The Rays drew 40,135 fans for their annual Pride Night, their largest regular-season crowd since their home opener in 2006. The club announced it has raised more than $300,000 for victims of the Orlando shooting at Pulse nightclub. 

— Red Sox slugger David Ortiz blasted his 521st career home run, tying Willie McCovey, Frank Thomas and Ted Williams for 19th on the all-time list. 

— The Blue Jays placed star outfielder Jose Bautista on the 15-day disabled list with a left big toe strain. The slugger's timetable is not yet known, but Ezequiel Carrera will likely take over in right field and in the leadoff spot while Bautista is out.

What's next

Diamondbacks (30-39) at Phillies (30-38), 3:05 p.m. ET: Looking for his 10th win of the season, Zack Greinke (9-3, 3.75 ERA) will look to stay hot against the struggling Phillies. Greinke, who owns a 0.78 ERA over his past three starts, will duel with Jerad Eickhoff (4-8, 3.40 ERA) for Philadelphia, a team that's lost 21 of its past 27 games.

Angels (29-38) at Athletics (29-38), 4:05 p.m.: ET: Two-time NL Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum will make his season debut with the Angels after fully recovering from hip surgery. In his last start with Triple-A Salt Lake on Sunday, the right-hander allowed just one hit and a walk over seven scoreless innings. 

Joe Rodgers