Mariners relievers hang on for sweep

Associated Press

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LOSING PITCHER: Cleveland Indians pitcher Zach Jackson delivers in the first inning of Sunday's game against teh Seattle Mariners at Progressive Field in Cleveland. Jackson suffered the loss in the Mariners' 6-4 win.

Three Indians walks in the ninth inning tightened the game.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Adrian Beltre helped the Seattle Mariners build a lead that was just big enough for its revitalized bullpen.

Beltre homered twice, Roy Corcoran completed a shaky ninth inning for his second save and Seattle beat the Cleveland Indians 6-4 Sunday to complete a three-game sweep.

Beltre’s third multi-homer game of the season and 19th of his career helped Seattle win for the seventh time in nine games.

The Indians entered the series with a 10-game winning streak but hit just .103 (3-for-29) with runners in scoring position over the three games against Seattle. Cleveland had not lost more than two games in a row since its season-worst 10-game slide from June 28-July 9.

“We had chances late again,” Indians manager Eric Wedge said. “We were one hit away from tying or winning it in all three games. That was the story of the series.”

In each instance, Seattle’s bullpen came through instead of adding to its 25 blown saves.

Corcoran, the fourth reliever used by manager Jim Riggleman, walked three in the ninth but got Ryan Garko to ground into a game-ending double play.

“If they were horrible pitches, I would’ve been more concerned,” Riggleman said of Corcoran’s first eight pitches — all outside the strike zone. “He wasn’t missing that much. I was confident he would find the zone.”

Corcoran deflected Garko’s grounder with his bare hand. The ball bounced to shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt, who turned the double play.

“I thought I messed up,” Corcoran said. “It probably was a sure double play, but I just reacted and touched it.”

Ryan Rowland-Smith (4-2) allowed two runs, one earned, and seven hits over 6 1/3 innings to win his second straight start. The converted reliever struck out two and walked one in his seventh start in 42 outings this year.