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Tuesday, Apr. 11 10:05pm ET
Nagy scatters four hits, strikes out 8 | |||||
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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Charles Nagy once again shut down the Oakland Athletics. Nagy allowed four hits in eight innings and David Justice homered as the Cleveland Indians defeated Oakland 5-1 for their fifth straight victory. "He had a great game. He was Charlie," said Cleveland's Jim Thome, who doubled, walked and scored in four trips to the plate. "We've come to rely on him for a long time." Nagy (1-1) struck out eight and did not allow an Oakland baserunner past second with the exception of Jason Giambi's fourth homer. Nagy improved to 12-5 lifetime against the A's, who lost for the fourth time in five games. "He was definitely sharp," A's manager Art Howe said. "We couldn't get any offense going." Nagy, who has pitched at least 200 innings in each of the last four seasons and has recorded 15 wins or more in the last five, rebounded from a poor first outing to record his 122nd career win, good for a 10th place tie in Cleveland history. "This guy has been on the team the longest and he always gives you 100 percent out there," Cleveland's Kenny Lofton said. "We all want him to throw a lot of innings." Nagy, who needed just seven pitches to get out of the sixth inning, said it was a matter of finding his rhythm. "I was a little rushed early. I got a little blurry," he said. "But I settled down and found my location with my pitches." Nagy averaged just 86 mph on his fastball, reaching 89 once. "Anything he does, he gives full force," Indians manager Charlie Manuel said. "He had good command and moved the ball around well." Justice hit his third home run of the season against Omar Olivares (1-1) on the first pitch of the third inning to give the Indians a 1-0 lead. Roberto Alomar singled to lead off the fourth, and eventually scored on a double play. He added a sacrifice fly in the fifth. Travis Fryman walked to open the fifth and advanced to second on Sandy Alomar's single. Lofton hit into a fielder's choice, sending Fryman to third. Fryman scored when Olivares' pickoff throw to first sailed into the Indians' bullpen. Lofton scored on the sacrifice fly. "My cleats got caught in the dirt and if I didn't throw the ball it would be a balk," Olivares said. "I tried to lob it and lost control." Fryman added an RBI single in the sixth. Olivares allowed five runs -- four earned -- and six hits in 5 2/3 innings. Game notesA's 2B Randy Velarde is expected to visit the A's minor league facilities in Arizona for further treatment while the A's travel to cold-weather cities Boston and Cleveland. Velarde, recovering from a strained left knee, could begin a rehab assignment as early as next week. ... The Indians have said Paul Shuey and Steve Karsay will be co-closers, at least for the time being. Karsay, though, has both Cleveland saves thus far, and has finished four games. Shuey has finished two, including Tuesday's. ... Roberto Alomar has a career mark of .474 (9-for-19) against Olivares. ... A's DH John Jaha, who struck out three times against Nagy, had a .478 career mark vs. the Indians' pitcher entering the game. Lofton went hitless for the first time this season. ... The Indians have committed one error in their first eight games. | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard Cleveland Clubhouse Oakland Clubhouse RECAPS Boston 13 Minnesota 4
Cleveland 5
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