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  Saturday, Jul. 15 1:05pm ET
Indians bullpen caps sweep of Pirates
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME LOG

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Travis Fryman cut down his swing -- and boosted his production.

The Indians' All-Star third baseman had three hits and three RBI Saturday to help Cleveland complete a three-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates, 6-4.

"I can't say enough about what Travis means to this team," manager Charlie Manuel said. "He's cut down his swing and putting the ball in play. He's hitting a lot of balls to right field and getting a lot of key hits for us."

Seve Karsay and Omar Vizquel
Indians closer Steve Karsay, center, is congratulated by Omar Vizquel after Vizquel got the final out Saturday. Karsay also got his 18th save.

All four Pittsburgh runs came on homers. Tike Redman, John Vander Wal, Jason Kendall and Wil Cordero hit the solo shots off Cleveland starter Jim Brower.

The three-game sweep was the first by an AL team over the Pirates since interleague play began in 1997.

It also gave Cleveland its first four-game winning streak since the Indians won five straight, June 3-7.

Fryman went 3-for-4 to lift his team-leading average to .330. He also has 14 homers and 52 RBI.

"I've just tried to take a more consistent approach all season," Fryman said.

Jamie Brewington (3-0) got the win by pitching 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief. He struck out Vander Wal with two runners on base in the fifth and fanned Kendall with two on in the sixth to preserve the 6-4 lead.

"That strikeout of Vander Wal was the big, big play of the game," Manuel said.

Jaime Navarro, Paul Shuey and Steve Karsay each pitched one scoreless inning. Karsay got his 18th save.

Two errors by Jose Silva (5-4) on one play helped Cleveland to a four-run first inning.

Roberto Alomar walked and went to second on a single by Omar Vizquel. Ricky Ledee then grounded into a forceout at second and was safe at first when Silva dropped the throw from shortstop Abraham Nunez, trying to complete a double play.

Alomar rounded third and scored standing up when Silva threw wildly to the plate.

After Manny Ramirez walked, Jim Thome's double to center scored Ledee for a 2-1 lead. Fryman followed with a two-run single.

Ramirez and Fryman each had RBI singles in the second to make it 6-1.

Redman led off the game with his first major league homer on a 3-2 pitch.

Vander Wal hit his 11th homer to make it 6-2 in the fourth.

In the fifth, Kendall hit his eighth and Cordero followed with his 14th to make it 6-4 and chase Brower.

"I kept falling behind in the count," Brower said. "When it got to three balls, I didn't want to put it in the hands of the umpire and wanted to throw strikes. I wish they would have popped those balls up, though."

Cleveland twice loaded the bases and did not score against reliever Josias Manzanillo. In the third, the right-hander got Vizquel to pop out and Ledee to hit into a double play.

In the fourth, Cleveland again filled the bases, this time with one out. Manzanillo then got Kenny Lofton to hit into a double play.

Cleveland stranded a total of 14 runners.

"Our bullpen did a great job, but it was a little late," Pirates manager Gene Lamont said. "We got 6 1/3 innings of shutout ball from the 'pen."

Aramis Ramirez went 3-for-4 for Pittsburgh.

Game notes
Before the game, Cleveland purchased the contract of Navarro from Triple-A Buffalo and optioned right-hander Sean DePaula to the Bisons. ... Pittsburgh has lost 20 of its last 28 road games. ... Silva's career ERA against Cleveland soared from 2.08 to 5.52. ... The four homers yielded by Brower are the most allowed by an Indians pitcher in one game at Jacobs Field since the park opened in 1994. ... Cleveland is 11-4 against NL teams, but just 36-38 against AL clubs this season.

 


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