Santana’s homer helps Indians beat Pirates

CLEVELAND (AP) — Carlos Santana homered and the Cleveland Indians opened a six-game interleague homestand with a 5-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.

Josh Tomlin (8-4) earned the win, bouncing back from three consecutive rocky starts. He gave up six hits but no walks over 62/3 innings, striking out five.

Vinnie Pestano struck out Michael McKenry with two on to end the seventh, then worked a perfect eighth. Tony Sipp pitched the ninth.

Santana broke a 2 for 26 slump by hitting his eighth homer of the season. With two outs in the fourth, he connected for a solo shot off Kevin Correia (8-6) that made it 2-0. He added a bases-loaded RBI single in a three-run eighth.

Read the story in Saturday’s Vindicator.