CLEVELAND — Eric Lauer no-hit Cleveland into the sixth inning a day after Milwaukee threw a history-making no-no, his teammates belted five homers and the Brewers beat the Indians 11-1.
Just hours after Corbin Burnes and Josh Hader combined on the record ninth no-hitter in the majors this season — and Cleveland's record third time being no-hit this year — Lauer threatened to make it two in a row. Lauer, a native of Elyria, didn't give up a hit until Ryan Lavarnway singled to center with one out in the sixth. Lavarnway, the Indians' backup catcher, lined a 1-2 pitch into center field.
Lauer would be removed two batters later after giving up back-to-back hits to Oscar Mercado and Myles Straw, striking out eight and allowing just one run across 5 1/3 innings. His Tribe counterpart Aaron Civale was not as successful, lasting just three while giving up three of Milwaukee's five home runs.
The 26-year-old Lauer was a star at Midview High School and was a 17th-round pick by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2013 MLB Draft, but chose instead to continue his career at Kent State. With the Flashes, he posted a 0.69 ERA to earn National Pitcher of the Year honors as a junior in 2016, leading to his being taken in the first round of that year's draft by the San Diego Padres.
Lauer was traded three years later to Milwaukee, and is currently in the middle of his best season in the big leagues. The young lefty is 6-5 with an impressive 3.10 ERA, and has helped the Brewers (89-55) soar to the top of the National League Central division standings.
On the other side, it was a weekend to forget for the Indians (69-72), who were outscored 24-4 in the three-game sweep. Losers of eight of their last 10, they'll have Monday off before heading to Minnesota for three games in two days with the Twins.