Hernandez homers twice in Tribe's win

Bob Wickman struggled, but saved Cleveland's 8-7 win over New York.
NEW YORK (AP) -- Bob Wickman was in trouble.
The Cleveland Indians' lead was down to one in the ninth inning, and the New York Yankees had the tying and winning runs on base with nobody out. Scott Elarton's second straight win was in jeopardy, but he wasn't all that nervous.
"You kind of get used to it with Wicky," Elarton said after the Indians' 8-7 victory Saturday. "He's done it so many times. He knows how to get out of those situations and it's really not as stressful as it might seem."
Wickman got Robinson Cano to hit into a double play, and then retired Alex Rodriguez for the final out as the Indians snapped a four-game losing streak.
Two homers
Jose Hernandez got the start against new Yankees lefty Darrell May and hit a pair of two-run homers and drove in five runs.
Cleveland, which had dropped 10 of 12 to the Yankees and 11 of 12 to them on the road, ended New York's six-game winning streak. The Yankees fell back into third place in the AL East, behind Boston and Baltimore, after passing the Orioles on Friday.
Elarton (6-3) followed his complete game victory on Monday over Detroit with a seven-inning effort.
"He has been as consistent as any starter we have, if not more so," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "He's a true example of what we talk about in terms of just giving the team a chance to win the ballgame."
Hideki Matsui brought New York to 7-6 with a three-run homer in the eighth inning off Arthur Rhodes, but Travis Hafner's second RBI double of the game gave Cleveland a two-run lead in the ninth.
Wickman allowed Ruben Sierra's third homer leading off the ninth, but managed to get his 23rd save in 26 chances.
Hernandez broke out of a slump to provide the offense.
In 37 games since April 21, Hernandez was hitting just .218. He homered twice against Cincinnati on June 24, but entered with only three home runs and 16 RBIs on the year.
"I think I always don't have a good start," Hernandez said. "I usually pick it up later on, like June and July."
Settled down
Elarton gave up back-to-back homers in the first inning to Gary Sheffield and Rodriguez before settling down and winning for the fourth time in five decisions.
"I didn't really feel very good the first inning," Elarton said. "I made two bad pitches to those guys. It's pretty much a guaranteed hard-hit ball if you miss over the plate."
He gave up three runs and six hits in matching his second longest outing of the season. Keeping a low pitch count was the difference.
"He did everything you could ask him to do," Wedge said.
May (0-1) lasted only 41/3 innings in his Yankees debut that came a day after he was brought up from Triple-A Columbus and one week following his acquisition from San Diego.
Pitching in place of injured Carl Pavano, May allowed seven runs, eight hits and a season-high three home runs. He was 1-3 with a 5.61 ERA with the Padres working in and out of the bullpen.
"I wasn't able to hit my spots when I wanted," May said. "When I tried to go away, I left the pitches up and that's what hurt me."
Notes: Hernandez drove in a career-best seven runs on April 12, 2001, with Milwaukee. ... Sheffield tied Cal Ripken Jr. for 33rd place on baseball's list with his 431st homer. ... Yankees 1B Jason Giambi returned to the lineup after leaving Friday's game in the sixth inning because of tightness in his left leg. ... The Indians recalled INF Brandon Phillips from Triple-A Buffalo and optioned LHP Brian Tallet. Phillips started at second base and went 0-for-4. He filled in for Ronnie Belliard, who was bothered by leg cramps. ... The Yankees' old-timers game was cut to 1 1-3 innings by a brief rain shower.
CLEVELANDNEW YORK
abrhbiabrhbi
Szmore cf5000Jeter ss5010
Crisp lf5230Cano 2b5121
Hafner dh4122Shffield dh2211
Blake rf4220ARod 3b5111
JHrndz 1b5235Matsui lf4113
JhPlta ss4111JaGbi 1b4010
Boone 3b4000TMrtnz 1b0000
Bard c4010Posada c4000
BPhillips 2b4000Sierra rf4231
MeCbr cf2000
BWllms cf2010
Wmack pr0000
Totals398128Totals377117
Cleveland032020001--8
New York200010031--7
DP--Cleveland 1. LOB--Cleveland 6, New York 6. 2B--Crisp (20), THafner 2 (22), Blake (13), Sierra 2 (10). HR--JHernandez 2 (5), JhPeralta (11), Sheffield (16), ARodriguez (23), Matsui (14), Sierra (3). SB--Crisp (11).
IPHRERBBSO
Cleveland
Elarton W,6-3763313
Howry1-312210
Rhodes2-311101
Wickman S,23131110
New York
May L,0-14 1-387703
Proctor2 2-320012
Sturtze221101
HBP--by Proctor (Blake). Umpires--Home, Ron Kulpa; First, Dan Iassogna; Second, Dale Scott; Third, Tim Tschida. T--3:12. A--54,366.