Tribe, Bucs win in blowouts

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

On his 39th birthday, Derek Lowe gift-wrapped a win for the Indians.

Lowe shook off taking a hard grounder off his right calf in the second inning and celebrated turning another year older by shutting down Minnesota’s lineup with ease for the second time this season and Jason Kipnis hit his first career grand slam, leading Cleveland to a 7-1 win over the Twins on Friday night.

Lowe (7-3) carried a two-hit shutout into the seventh inning before the Twins scratched out a run on three hits. The right-hander, who pitched a shutout at Minnesota on May 15, gave the Indians a much-needed quality start after a rough week for their starting rotation.

“I can’t say enough about Derek,” Indians manager Manny Acta said. “We really needed someone to step up and he was the right guy to do it. He’s been our most consistent guy so far. He was huge for us.”

Kipnis connected for his slam in the fourth off Carl Pavano (2-5) as the Indians, who have been rocked by injuries lately, won for just the second time in seven games.

Lonnie Chisenhall hit a two-run homer in the second for Cleveland, which has won 11 of 12 over Minnesota.

The Twins had their winning streak stopped at three and fell to an AL-worst 18-33.

Sensing the team needed a spark, former Indians second baseman Carlos Baerga burst into the clubhouse before the game hollering, “Let’s go. We need a win.” Baerga greeted Lowe with a big hug.

Pirates 8, Brewers 2

MILWAUKEE

The Pittsburgh Pirates scored six runs off Randy Wolf in the third inning, then went on to pound the Milwaukee Brewers.

Ryan Braun left the game with a right hip strain, after sitting out Thursday night’s game because of lingering tightness in his right Achilles tendon.

Kevin Correia (2-5) gave up two runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings for the Pirates, who have won six of their last seven games. The Pirates came into Friday’s game with a 4-38 record at Miller Park since the start of the 2007 season.

Nyjer Morgan hit a solo home run in the first inning for Milwaukee, snapping his Major League record of 138 straight plate appearances without an RBI to start the season. But Morgan’s misplayed ball in the outfield played a critical role in the Pirates’ big inning.

Corey Hart hit a solo home run, his 11th this season.

Wolf gave up back-to-back triples to start the third, as Andrew McCutchen drove in Josh Harrison. Pedro Alvarez struck out, but Wolf allowed an RBI single to Neil Walker for a 2-1 Pirates lead.