Rejuvenated Salazar leads Indians past Os

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Danny Salazar learned an important lesson when he was sent to the minors before the season began.

“I knew I didn’t have a very good spring training and maybe that was coming,” he said. “It was clear that I needed to earn a spot.”

That’s exactly what the right-hander has done since being called up in mid-April. Salazar pitched impressively into the eighth inning to reach a career high in wins as the Cleveland Indians beat the Baltimore Orioles 2-1 on Saturday.

Carlos Santana had a tiebreaking double in the sixth, which was enough for Salazar and two relievers to finish off the Indians’ seventh win in 10 games.

Salazar (6-1) struck out 10 and allowed six hits and a run in seven-plus innings. Baltimore’s only run came on Manny Machado’s third-inning homer. Salazar hasn’t lost since May 5, a span of six starts. Instead of pouting about getting demoted, Salazar decided hard work was the answer.

“Right now, so far, I’m much better,” he said. “I have my own routine, something I didn’t have in spring training. I’m working on it every day. That’s helped me a lot.”

Brad Brach (3-2) retired the first two hitters in the sixth before walking Jason Kipnis. Santana’s line drive landed in the right field corner and Kipnis scored on a headfirst dive into the plate.

Cody Allen walked Chris Davis with one out in the ninth, but he then struck out Matt Wieters. The pitch was in the dirt and Davis was thrown out advancing to second for Allen’s 13th save.

Nick Swisher had an RBI single in the third for the Indians, who are 15-7 since May 14. Cleveland (27-28) can move to .500 for the first time since the fourth game of the season with a win Sunday.

Salazar came out for the eighth but was pulled after walking Ryan Flaherty, his only free pass of the game. Bryan Shaw retired the next three hitters.

The Indians have been waiting for the 25-year-old Salazar to put it all together since first calling him up two years ago.

“He’s doing a good job,” manager Terry Francona said. “It’s fun to watch young guys get better.”