Monday, June 19, 2006
The Tribe has lost five straight series and 10 of their last 13 games.
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Carlos Lee had a special father's day dedication to make after his first career walk-off home run lifted the Milwaukee Brewers to a 6-3 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Sunday.
"I was hitting it for myself," Lee said with a smile. "I'm a father, too."
Lee's three-run blast in the bottom of the ninth broke a 3-3 tie, allowing the Brewers to complete a three-game sweep of the Indians.
It was the latest in a series of home comebacks for the Brewers, who have trailed in 20 of their 24 victories at Miller Park this season. Geoff Jenkins hit a two-run single in the bottom of the ninth to beat Cleveland Saturday.
"They don't fold up when they get behind a little bit," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "They keep after it."
With the victory, Milwaukee has climbed back to the .500 mark for the first time since May 30. After breaking an eight-game losing streak earlier this month, the Brewers have won nine of their last 13.
"We bounced back from that little streak really well, and have been playing pretty good baseball," Yost said.
Struggling
That certainly isn't the case for the Indians, who have lost five straight series and 10 of their last 13 games.
"Any time you lose games late like that, it's just all the tougher," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "They took it to us late."
Gabe Gross led off the ninth with a double, and went to third on a sacrifice bunt by Rickie Weeks. Wedge had Rafael Betancourt intentionally walk Corey Koskie to get to Lee.
"Raffe is better against right-handers," Wedge said. "We put Koskie on, Raffe has handled Carlos good in the past. We just gave him a pitch up he could hit."
Betancourt (0-3) took the loss for Cleveland. Derrick Turnbow (4-3) pitched the ninth to get the victory for Milwaukee.
The Brewers squandered a chance to take the lead in the eighth, putting runners on first and second with one out but failing to score. Chad Moeller popped out, and pinch hitter Jeff Cirillo hit a deep fly ball that was caught at the warning track in left field to end the inning.
Cirillo jumped in frustration after rounding first base and appeared to hurt his ankle. Yost said he didn't know how serious the injury was.
Milwaukee's Prince Fielder tied the game at 3 with a leadoff solo home run in the sixth, his 13th homer of the year.
"I'll have a hard time sleeping for the 3-2 change-up down the middle to Fielder," said Cleveland starter Paul Byrd, who gave up three runs and seven hits in six innings. "It was right down the middle. It was the difference in the game."
The Brewers had to come from behind after a shaky start by rookie Zach Jackson. Yost pulled the highly regarded left-hander after he allowed eight hits in the first three innings.
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