Indians suffer another one-run defeat

Indians suffer another one-run defeat

PHILADELPHIA

One run short once again.

Vince Velasquez tossed two-hit ball over six innings and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Cleveland Indians 2-1 Sunday for their sixth straight win.

The Indians have played six straight one-run games, losing five.

They’re 4-7 overall in one-run games.

“We’ve had close games all year,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “We talk about being one run better. In this series, that’s what they did.”

Danny Salazar (2-2) was the hard-luck loser for Cleveland. He gave up two runs, three hits and fanned eight in seven innings. Salazar hasn’t allowed more than three hits in any of his five starts.

Salazar balked home the decisive run in the third inning.

“I slipped,” he said. “I was trying to push off and my right foot went back. The mound was a little wet.”

The Indians can’t afford even the smallest mistakes the way things are going.

“In close games, everything is so magnified,” Francona said.

Freddy Galvis had an RBI single a day after driving in three runs in a 4-3 win, helping the surprising Phillies win for the 15th time in 21 games since starting 0-4.

Velasquez (4-1) struck out six and pitched around trouble because of four walks. He lowered his ERA to 1.44.

David Hernandez pitched two hitless innings and Hector Neris earned his first career save after giving up a solo homer to Carlos Santana with one out in the ninth.

Closer Jeanmar Gomez wasn’t available after pitching four of the previous five games.

Velasquez helped himself by drawing a walk with one out in the third. He advanced on a single by Peter Bourjos and scored on a two-out single by Galvis. Bourjos scored on Salazar’s balk to make it 2-0.

Salazar was annoyed he walked the pitcher.

“I was trying to get strike three and left the ball up,” he said. It’s frustrating, but we’re working hard and things will get better.”

Left fielder Darin Ruf, who played exclusively first base throughout spring training, made an outstanding, diving catch to rob Rajai Davis of extra bases with two runners on and two outs in the fourth, preserving the 2-0 lead.

After late rally, Bucs fall in 11 innings

PITTSBURGH

Despite three late comebacks, the Pirates’ chances of extending their winning streak couldn’t endure some shoddy defense.

Pittsburgh committed a season-high four errors in addition to misplaying some other balls during a 6-5 loss to the Cincinnati Reds in 11 innings Sunday.

“Any time you get up with four errors, that’s not where you want to be,” manager Clint Hurdle said.

“We did some nice things today. Unfortunately, a couple balls beat us over the top,” he said.

The Pirates had won six in a row.

Scott Schebler hit an RBI double in the 11th inning and the Reds snapped a six-game losing streak.

Eugenio Suarez led off the Reds 11th with a triple past diving left fielder Starling Marte. Schebler hit a liner that right fielder Gregory Polanco misjudged and the ball went over his head.

Ryan Vogelsong (1-1) took the loss.

Blake Wood (3-0) pitched two scoreless innings, including a perfect 11th.

The Reds won for only the second time since being no-hit by the Cubs’ Jake Arrieta on April 21.

Polanco and John Jaso homered for the Pirates.

Jaso hit a solo home run with two outs in the ninth off Ross Ohlendorf that made it 5-all. The drive landed in the first row of seats atop the 21-foot wall in right field.

Polanco led off the fifth with his third homer.

It became the 39th home run ball to reach the Allegheny River in the 16 seasons of PNC Park.

Associated Press