Indians blank Pirates 2-0


June 15, 2012 at 10:09p.m.

Indians blank Pirates 2-0

CLEVELAND (AP) — Justin Masterson pitched seven sharp innings and the Cleveland Indians snapped a three-game losing streak with a 2-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.

Masterson (3-6) allowed four hits, struck out nine and ended his own three-game slide. He wriggled out of threats in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings.

Vinnie Pestano worked the eighth and Chris Perez pitched the ninth for his major league-leading 21st save. He hasn’t blown a save since opening day.

Carlos Santana hit an RBI double in the third off James McDonald (5-3) and Michael Brantley extended baseball’s longest hitting streak this season to 22 games with a run-scoring single in the eighth.

The Pirates have lost four straight.