Kearns’ hit in 11th rescues Indians

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Manager Manny Acta didn’t care that it took 11 hours. He was plenty proud of the Cleveland Indians’ doubleheader sweep that began Saturday afternoon.

Austin Kearns lined a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning to give Cleveland a 2-1 win in the second game after Fausto Carmona (9-7) outlasted Justin Verlander in a matchup of All-Star right-handers to win the opener 4-3.

Rafael Perez (2-0) pitched 11/3 scoreless innings in the second game for the win, which came early Sunday after rain halted play for 1 hour, 53 minutes in the top of the ninth.

“It was the culmination of a long, long, but productive day,” Acta said.

Jayson Nix singled off Robbie Weinhardt (0-1) to start Cleveland’s two-out rally. Weinhardt then walked Carlos Santana and Kearns, with the runners in motion on a 3-2 pitch, lined a single to left, easily scoring Nix.

Trevor Crowe’s RBI single off Phil Coke (5-1) broke a 3-3 tie in the seventh inning of the opener and Chris Perez worked a scoreless ninth for his eighth save in 11 chances. He closed in place of Kerry Wood, put on the disabled list before the game with a blister on his right index finger.

“The bullpen did a fantastic job in both games,” Acta said.

Rick Porcello, recalled from Triple-A Toledo by the Tigers between games, pitched eight solid innings. The right-hander struck out six without a walk and allowed six hits, including a sixth-inning homer by Santana.

Cleveland starter Mitch Talbot yielded a two-out RBI single to Ryan Raburn in the second. The right-hander worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the first and went five innings. Jensen Lewis, called up to take Wood’s roster spot, then worked two scoreless.