Jose Ramirez homered in each game of the doubleheader on Wednesday as the host Cleveland Indians completed a sweep with a 5-1 victory over the Texas Rangers.

Ramirez belted a two-run homer in the seventh inning of a 2-0 win in the opener of the doubleheader before launching a solo shot in the second inning of the nightcap.

Carlos Santana and Jason Kipnis each ripped an RBI double, and Yasiel Puig had a run-scoring single for the Indians, who have won 18 of their last 24 contests to move within two games of first-place Minnesota in the American League Central. The division rivals begin a four-game series at Target Field on Thursday.

Cleveland elected to use a bullpen game in the nightcap, with five pitchers combining to allow just one run on four hits while striking out nine without walking a batter.

Tyler Clippard struck out three without surrendering a hit before fellow right-hander Hunter Wood matched him with two scoreless innings. A.J. Cole (3-1) scattered two hits and fanned two in 2 2/3 innings before Oliver Perez bridged the gap to Nick Wittgren, who did not surrender a hit over 1 2/3 scoreless innings for his third save of the season.

Ramirez opened the scoring by depositing a first-pitch fastball from Lance Lynn (14-7) over the wall in right field with one out in the second. The homer was his 16th of the season and 11th since July 4.

Kipnis extended his hitting streak to seven games with a double to lead off the seventh inning before advancing on a passed ball and scoring on Franmil Reyes' sacrifice fly to right field.

Willie Calhoun posted Texas' only run of the day, leading off the eighth inning by sending an 0-1 slider from Perez over the wall in right field. The homer was Calhoun's ninth of the season and third in six games.

Cleveland answered in the bottom of the eighth, as Francisco Lindor ripped a double to right field off Jesse Chavez and scored after Santana did the same two batters later. Puig's single plated Santana before Kipnis capped the uprising with an RBI double to give the Indians a 5-1 lead.

--Field Level Media