Go-ahead run by Peralta lifts Indians over Reds

May 24, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Jhonny Peralta ended two long streaks with one swing.

Peralta singled in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning Sunday to help the Cleveland Indians beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-3, to snap a six-game losing streak and give David Huff his first win since April 15.

“It was a clutch win with a clutch hit and some good pitching,” said Shelley Duncan, who had a first-inning RBI single to help Cleveland avoid its first home sweep to Cincinnati.

The Reds have won 11 of 15 from their in-state rivals since 2008, and the overall series is tied at 33.

Huff (2-6) gave up three runs and six hits over six innings for his first win in six starts. The left-hander was 0-5 with a 7.33 ERA since his first career complete game April 15, a four-hit, 3-2 win over Texas.

“It’s been a tough couple of weeks,” Huff said. “It was time to move on.”

Reds starting pitcher Homer Bailey left in the third inning with tightness in his right shoulder. The seventh overall pick in the 2004 draft will be examined today in Cincinnati by team physician Dr. Timothy Kremchek.

“We don’t think it’s anything serious,” Bailey said. “At the end of the second and beginning of the third, I couldn’t quite get loose. I wanted to stay in the game, but they weren’t going to let that happen.

“It wasn’t agonizing pain or anything like that. It could be something minor. There wasn’t one pitch where I felt something. It kind of slowly crept up.”

Kerry Wood worked the ninth for his first save since Sept. 25. The right-hander was sidelined out of spring training until May 7 with a strained muscle in his back. He blew his first save opportunity Wednesday by allowing five runs in the ninth inning of an 8-4 loss to Kansas City.

“It was good to see Woody come back,” Indians manager Manny Acta said. “The bullpen did a good job and David had good pop on his fastball. He got in trouble with some off-speed stuff. He’s got to learn to use his fastball effectively.”

Peralta lined a two-out single off Daniel Ray Herrera (0-2) to break a 3-3 tie. Trevor Crowe singled with one out and went to third on Shin-Soo Choo’s third hit, a single to right. Travis Hafner struck out before Peralta delivered.