Tribe rallies, but loses, 9-8, in 11

By DENNIS MANOLOFF

CLEVELAND — Just when it appeared the Indians’ bullpen was beginning to right itself, the Brewers arrived at Progressive Field.

Milwaukee hitters enjoyed a three-night feast at the table of Tribe relievers, including a six-run output Wednesday that led to a 9-8 victory in 11 innings.

J.J. Hardy’s sacrifice fly against Greg Aquino with the bases loaded won it. Aquino, the Tribe’s sixth pitcher, got Bill Hall to fly out on a 3-1 pitch with the bases loaded to keep the deficit at one.

The Indians put runners on first and second with one out in the 11th, but Shin-Soo Choo and Ben Francisco struck out on respective full-count pitches against lefty Mitch Stetter, whose current streak of strikeouts in relief has reached 11.

The Brewers, who lead the National League Central, improved to 37-29 with the sweep. Their franchise has won seven in a row over Cleveland.

Milwaukee had lost six of seven and was not swinging the bats particularly well entering the series, but it was impossible to tell.

The Indians, last place in the American League Central, dropped to 29-39. They had won three straight series before the Brewers took them apart.

The Tribe refused to go quietly. Trailing, 8-4, in the ninth, the Indians rallied to tie. With one out, Jamey Carroll walked and Mark DeRosa doubled against Seth McClung. Carroll stopped at third.

Trevor Hoffman, the majors’ all-time leader with 570 saves, relieved.

Victor Martinez delivered an RBI single. After Choo walked, Ryan Garko belted a meatball into left-center to drive in three. Garko turned an ankle between second and third and was tagged out. Ben Francisco replaced him in left in the 10th.

Hoffman blew his first save in 17 opportunities.

On Monday, Tribe relievers gave up eight runs in four innings in a 14-12 loss. On Tuesday, they allowed four runs in four innings in a 7-5 loss.

They pulled a six-in-six Wednesday.

Starters were partners in these crimes, because nothing taxes — or, in the case of the Tribe, exposes — a bullpen like lead dogs who cannot go deep into games. Tribe left-hander David Huff exited after five innings, just as Carl Pavano and Jeremy Sowers previously.