Indians 3, Yankees 1: Justin Masterson tossed 6 2/3 solid innings and Michael Brantley belted a three-run homer as host Cleveland snapped a nine-game losing skid.
The Indians prevented their second double-digit losing streak in the last month with the victory. Cleveland, which amassed an 11-game skid in July, recorded its first win since Aug. 13.
Masterson (10-11), the winning pitcher in that encounter, improved to 3-2 in his career versus the Yankees after handcuffing them on Saturday. The fireballer allowed one run on seven hits and struck out six.
Brantley staked Masterson to a 3-0 lead in the first inning after belting a first-pitch fastball from Hiroki Kuroda (12-9) to deep right-center field. The ball caromed off the top of the wall and into the seats for his sixth homer – and first since Aug. 14.
Vinnie Pestano worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings to bridge the gap to Chris Perez, who struck out two in the ninth for his 33rd save.
Derek Jeter had a pair of hits and scored on Mark Teixeira’s sacrifice fly in the sixth inning for the Yankees, who fell for the fourth time in five contests. New York remained 3 1/2 games ahead of Tampa Bay in the American League East. The Rays dropped a 4-2 decision to Oakland on Saturday afternoon.
After a sluggish start, Kuroda limited Cleveland to just three runs on four hits in eight innings.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Jeter led off the fourth inning by striking out for the 1,720th time in his career. The strikeout gave him the most in Yankees’ history, moving past Mickey Mantle. … Robinson Cano’s two-out double in the fourth gave him 321 for his career, moving him into a tie with Yogi Berra for 11th place in team history. … Cleveland defeated New York for the first time in five outings this season. … New York’s Nick Swisher extended his hitting streak at Progressive Field to 15 games with a single. … Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy paid a visit to former Indians hurler CC Sabathia, who picked up the win in Friday’s contest.
