Choo’s homers pace Indians

Associated Press

CINCINNATI

Breaking ball? Gone. Changeup? Gone, too. A pair of fastballs? Shin-Soo Choo clobbered those just as well.

The outfielder provided Cleveland’s few bright moments in an intrastate series that won’t be remembered for much else.

Choo homered twice off Bronson Arroyo — the second time he’s done it this season — and the Indians ended their seven-game losing streak on Sunday, beating the Cincinnati Reds 5-3 right after they started playing for next year.

The Indians traded power hitter Russell Branyan to Seattle for a pair of prospects before the game, conceding this season is a lost cause. Then, Choo gave them a brief respite from their misery.

“I feel good about stopping the losing streak,” Choo said.

He hit a solo homer in the first and a three-run shot in the fifth off Arroyo (7-4), who can’t seem to get him out.

Choo also homered twice off Arroyo on May 21 during Cincinnati’s 7-4 win in Cleveland. The four homers have come off a breaking ball, a changeup and a pair of fastballs.

“Matchups in this game are strange sometimes,” Arroyo said. “Obviously, he’s confident against me. Four home runs in two games is outstanding.”

Despite the loss, Cincinnati remains a half-game ahead of St. Louis in the NL Central.

Rookie Mitch Talbot (8-6) held the NL’s most prolific lineup to three singles over seven innings. Talbot is one of the AL’s best pitchers on the road, a trend that held when he crossed leagues. He retired 12 in a row over one stretch.