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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Streak stoppers

M’s halt Indians’ run at 10 victories

Seattle’s Raul Ibanez circles bases after hitting a two-run home run in third. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
By Tom Withers Associated Press

CLEVELAND – For nearly two weeks, the Cleveland Indians strung together timely hits, quality starts and win after win after win, racking up 10 straight.

Then they ran into the Seattle Mariners.

Of all teams.

Felix Hernandez stopped baseball’s hottest team, Raul Ibanez homered and drove in three runs and the lowly Mariners – the A.L.’s worst team – beat Cleveland 3-2 on Friday night, ending the Indians’ longest winning streak since 2002.

“We were one hit away too many times,” Indians manager Eric Wedge said. “We definitely had our opportunities. We just didn’t finish innings off.”

Hernandez (9-8) allowed two runs and six hits in six innings to win for the first time in six road starts. He came up with the big pitch when he needed it as the Indians went 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position against the right-hander.

Fresh off winning six straight on the road, Cleveland opened a six-game homestand with its first loss since Aug. 16. The Indians, who also lost 10 straight earlier this season, have not won 11 in a row since 1982.

Not even the return of Victor Martinez from the disabled list could keep the Indians’ winning streak alive against the Mariners, who at 51-83 sit at the bottom of the A.L. West.

The two-time All-Star catcher, who underwent elbow surgery in June, was activated before the game. He went 1 for 3 with a walk while playing first base.

It’s not that the Indians didn’t have their chances. They hit into three double plays – two by Jhonny Peralta – and stranded the tying run at third in the eighth despite getting three hits in the inning.

“I can see why they won 10 straight,” Mariners manager Jim Riggleman said. “We had one of the best young pitchers in the game on the mound and he had to fight through every inning. They made life miserable for him.”

Seattle closer J.J. Putz, who had blown four of his previous six save chances, worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his 10th save.

One of baseball’s best hitters in August, Ibanez put the Mariners ahead 3-0 in the third off Jeremy Sowers (2-7) with his 22nd homer.

Yuniesky Betancourt singled with one out and Ibanez followed with a shot into the left-field bleachers, giving him seven homers, 29 RBIs and a .388 (40 for 103) average this month.