Masterson handles Yankees, stops Indians’ skid

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Justin Masterson handled New York’s power-packed lineup for 6 2-3 innings and Michael Brantley hit a three-run homer as the Cleveland Indians snapped a nine-game skid with a 3-1 win over the Yankees on Saturday night.

It’s the second time this month that Masterson (10-11) has busted a long losing streak for the Indians. On Aug. 8, he beat Minnesota and stopped Cleveland’s 11-game slide, one loss shy of the club record.

Brantley homered in the first inning off Hiroki Kuroda (12-9), and the Indians, who were in playoff contention in late July, held on to win for just the fifth time in 27 games. Cleveland is 5-18 in August.

Masterson, roughed up by Oakland in his previous start, allowed one run and seven hits. He walked two, struck out six and worked his way out of a major mess in the sixth.

With the victory, the Indians avoided becoming the first team since the Kansas City Royals in 2006 to have two losing streaks of at least 10 games in the same season.

Vinnie Pestano replaced Masterson in the seventh, inheriting two runners with two outs. Pestano walked Robinson Cano to load the bases before breaking Mark Teixeira’s bat on a popup.

Chris Perez pitched a perfect ninth for his 33rd save, striking out Derek Jeter for the final out.

Despite the loss, the AL East-leading Yankees remained 3 1/2 games ahead of Tampa Bay, which lost 4-2 to Oakland.

Kuroda gave up Brantley’s homer in the first, but shut out Cleveland on just four hits over the next seven innings.

Masterson coasted through five innings, allowing just three hits and holding a 3-0 lead.

But the Yankees had him on the ropes in the sixth, when they loaded the bases with none out on two singles and a walk. Teixeira’s sacrifice fly to deep center made it 3-1, and Masterson walked Curtis Granderson to refill the bases. However, Masterson got Eric Chavez on a liner to third and right fielder Shin-Soo Choo ran down Russell Martin’s drive at the warning track.

As Masterson walked back to the dugout, catcher Lou Marson slapped the big right-hander on the rear end after he survived New York’s ominous threat.