Kluber, Indians blank Yankees

Published 1:27 am Monday, August 11, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — Corey Kluber pitched four-hit ball for a superb six innings Saturday and Jose Ramirez hit his first career homer as the Cleveland Indians ended a four-game skid with a 3-0 victory over the New York Yankees.

Michael Brantley also homered and had three hits for Cleveland, which won at Yankee Stadium for the first time in eight games. Ramirez hit a two-run drive in the second inning and had three hits.

Derek Jeter had an infield single in the sixth inning to pass Honus Wagner for sixth on the career list with No. 3,431. But New York was 0 for 9 with six strikeouts with runners in scoring position in losing for just the second time in eight games.

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Kluber (13-6) did not allow a hit until Jacoby Ellsbury doubled with one out in the fourth. He struck out 10 to beat New York for the first time in three tries. The right-hander has allowed only one earned run since the ninth inning of a win against Detroit on July 19. He has won five straight decisions.

FRIDAY’S GAME

NEW YORK (AP) — Carlos Beltran hit a grand slam and drove in five runs as the New York Yankees broke out to support improbable fill-in starter Esmil Rogers and beat the sloppy Cleveland Indians 10-6 on Friday night for their sixth win in seven games.

Derek Jeter tied Honus Wagner with his 3,430th hit in a five-run first inning against Trevor Bauer (4-7) and Beltran’s 11th career slam highlighted a five-run sixth. The Indians, who have the majors’ worst fielding percentage, prolonged both innings with errors in their fourth straight loss overall and seventh in a row in the Bronx.

The Yankees walked seven times in moving seven games above .500 (61-54) for the first time this season.

Picked up off waivers on July 31 after the Toronto Blue Jays cut him for the second time this season, Rogers (2-0) became the 12th player to make a start for New York.

Pitching in place of David Phelps (elbow inflammation), he allowed one run and four hits over five innings in his first start since Sept. 25 for Toronto and threw 88 pitches — 45 was his high this season coming in.

Rogers’ outing followed four fine starts by a makeshift rotation against the Detroit Tigers’ heralded staff. Three of those came from pitchers who made their first start for the Yankees in July: Brandon McCarthy, Chris Capuano and Shane Greene.

The Yankees took advantage of three walks by Bauer in the first inning. Beltran, Stephen Drew and Martin Prado had RBI singles and another run scored on second baseman Jason Kipnis’ throwing error.

Bauer was charged with five runs and six hits in 3 1-3 innings.

John Axford walked the bases loaded — one intentional — before Beltran connected to make it 9-2.

Yankees reliever Shawn Kelley walked in a run in Cleveland’s four-run seventh. Carlos Santana had a two-run double in the inning.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Indians: Center fielder Michael Brantley was given the start at designated hitter to “get him off his legs,” manager Terry Francona said. The All-Star was 1 for 7 in two losses at Cincinnati. … Third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall was out of the starting lineup because he looked fatigued, Francona said. Chisenhall is hitless in his last 13 at-bats.

Yankees: First baseman Mark Teixeira sat out his second straight game after getting stitches in his left pinkie Wednesday night. … Michael Pineda struck out seven without walking a batter in 4 1-3 innings of a rehab start for Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes/Barre. He threw 72 pitches and allowed six hits and a run. … Catcher Brian McCann left in the sixth inning with a mild concussion. He was hit in the mask by a foul ball earlier in the game.

UP NEXT

Cleveland’s Corey Kluber (12-6) will be pitching on four days’ rest when he faces McCarthy (4-0) Saturday. The Yankees have not lost in any of McCarthy’s five starts since arriving in a trade with Arizona in early July. New York will honor Paul O’Neill, a fan favorite on four World Series teams from 1996-2000, before the game.