Tribe focuses on the positive

Associated Press

NEW YORK

For a team that just got swept and ran its losing streak to a season-high five games, the Cleveland Indians had plenty to be optimistic about.

They put together better at bats against the Yankees in the finale than they had in the first two games, they put the go-ahead run on base in the ninth, and they even got another nice start on the road from Ubaldo Jimenez following a serviceable one from Justin Masterson.

Even though it all added up to a 5-4 loss Wednesday in the Bronx, the Indians can expect their top two starters to make their next starts. The Yankees put theirs on the disabled list. Before the game, CC Sabathia went on the DL with a strained groin, and Andy Pettitte broke his fibula in the fifth inning when he was hit by a ball off the bat of Casey Kotchman.

Robinson Cano hit a go-ahead homer off Jimenez (7-6) in the sixth after the Indians took the lead in the top of the fifth off the Yankees’ bullpen.

“We played better, better baseball today. I really liked the at-bats, especially at the end,” Cleveland manager Manny Acta said. “Ubaldo threw the ball well. He made a few mistakes and they ended up making him pay for it.”

Rafael Soriano had an adventuresome ninth inning in which put the first two batters on base and walked in a run with two outs before getting Asdrubal Cabrera to fly out to left for his 17th save.

“We weren’t too far away,” Kotchman said. “Obviously the outcomes haven’t been favorable but we’re not too far away. We’re just trying to stay as positive as we can and things change around over 162” games.

Pettitte was hit near his left ankle as he brought it around from the rubber while completing his delivery.

He got back on the mound and threw several warm-up pitches before manager Joe Girardi let him stay in.

But when he came up limping after throwing his first live pitch, Girardi popped out of the dugout and signaled for a pitching change.