Josh Naylor foiled Pittsburgh's strategy with an RBI single in the seventh inning, helping the Cleveland Indians beat the Pirates 2-1 Sunday.
Cleveland avoided a three-game sweep by the Pirates, who had lost 10 straight entering the series. The Indians have won seven of 10.
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Josh Naylor foiled Pittsburgh's strategy with an RBI single in the seventh inning, helping the Cleveland Indians beat the Pirates 2-1 Sunday.
The hit came after Pirates manager Derek Shelton pulled starter JT Brubaker (4-6) with two out in the seventh. The right-handed Brubaker threw just 76 pitches, gave up three hits and tied his career-high with nine strikeouts.
The Pirates had runners on first and third and one out in the seventh, but Trevor Stephan got Gregory Polanco to pop out and Adam Frazier to fly out.
Maton struck out the side that inning, but allowed three hits in relief of Sam Hentges, who gave up two hits with four strikeouts in five innings.
ROSTER MOVE
The lefty-swinging Naylor sent the first pitch he saw from left-handed reliever Chasen Shreve to right, driving in Eddie Rosario to break a 1-all tie.
Cleveland Indians' Josh Naylor singles off Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Chasen Shreve, driving in a run, during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, June 20, 2021. (AP PhotoGene J. Puskar)
The hit came after Pirates manager Derek Shelton pulled starter JT Brubaker (4-6) with two out in the seventh. The right-handed Brubaker threw just 76 pitches, gave up three hits and tied his career-high with nine strikeouts.
Naylor, who had an earlier hit, was batting .189 against lefties and .277 vs. righties.
James Karinchak struck out Colin Moran looking, stranding Kevin Newman at second in the ninth for his eighth save. Karinchak allowed a three-run homer by Bryan Reynolds in the seventh inning of a 6-3 loss on Saturday.
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher JT Brubaker delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Indians in Pittsburgh, Sunday, June 20, 2021. (AP PhotoGene J. Puskar)
The Pirates had runners on first and third and one out in the seventh, but Trevor Stephan got Gregory Polanco to pop out and Adam Frazier to fly out.
Brubaker retired the first 13 batters until Harold Ramirez hit a drive into the left-field bleachers to put the Indians up 1-0 with one out in the fifth. Ramirez homered twice Saturday.
Jacob Stallings tied it 1-all with a two-out single off Phil Maton (2-0) in the sixth.
Pittsburgh Pirates' Jacob Stallings singles off Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Phil Maton, driving in a run, during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, June 20, 2021. (AP PhotoGene J. Puskar)
Maton struck out the side that inning, but allowed three hits in relief of Sam Hentges, who gave up two hits with four strikeouts in five innings.
It was Hentges’ first start since giving up four runs in 2 1/3 innings against the Toronto Blue Jays on May 30. He had made three relief appearances since.
Reynolds had the only hit for either team through four innings, doubling off Hentges in the first. Reynolds sent a bloop into right field, where Cesar Hernandez dropped an over-the-shoulder attempt.
Cleveland Indians' Harold Ramirez, right, celebrates with Josh Naylor after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, June 20, 2021. (AP PhotoGene J. Puskar)
ROSTER MOVE
Pittsburgh recalled LHP Austin Davis from Triple-A Indianapolis. He pitched the ninth, retiring three batters after allowing a leadoff walk.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Indians: RHP Shane Bieber will be reassessed at some point this week, pitching coach Carl Willis said. Bieber was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right shoulder muscle strain on June 14.
Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Sam Hentges delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Sunday, June 20, 2021. (AP PhotoGene J. Puskar)
Pirates: LHP Sam Howard went on the 10-day IL retroactive to June 19 with right knee tendinitis.
UP NEXT
Indians: RHP Aaron Civale (10-2, 3.48 ERA) will take the mound against the Cubs in Chicago on Monday. Civale allowed five runs, tying his season high, in five innings Wednesday.
Pirates: LHP Tyler Anderson (3-7, 4.89) is expected to start the first of a two-game set against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday. In his last start, Anderson gave up a season-high six runs in six innings Tuesday.
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