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Peralta helps Indians escape Dodgers

Jun 21, 2008 - 7:32 AM LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Cliff Lee was masterful again but the Cleveland Indians still needed extra innings to end a three-game losing streak.

Jhonny Peralta's two-run double in the top of the 10th inning helped the Indians claim a 6-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night.

Lee pitched 7 1/3 outstanding innings, allowing just six hits and one walk while striking out three before leaving the game with a 4-0 lead.

"Cliff threw a great ballgame," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "It's not important who wins the game, it's just important that we win. These guys came and fought right back against their closer, and for Jhonny to come up and step it up, it was just a great effort."

"Its nice to come out here with a win, we were able to win that one in the 10th," Lee said. "I'm pleased with how things went, I felt like I was locating my pitches well and putting up zeroes. I was locating my fastball pretty well and mixing in a few off-speed pitches, I was pretty pleased with (my start)."

The 29-year-old lefthander was charged with just one run after reliever Rafael Betancourt surrendered an RBI double to Jeff Kent in the eighth inning, plating Matt Kemp, who ended Lee's outing with a one-out single earlier in the frame.

Rafael Perez replaced Betancourt and promptly surrendered an RBI single to James Loney as Los Angeles narrowed the deficit to 4-2.

Closer Joe Borowski (1-2) was summoned for the ninth and quickly blew his third save of the season.

"I'm upset that Cliff threw 7 1/3 great innings and has nothing to show for it because of me. Fortunately we were able to win the game but he deserves better than that." Borowski said. "I want to get in there and go 1-2-3, but I made it interesting."

Angel Berroa singled to lead off the inning and advanced to third on a double by Russell Martin.

After rookie Blake DeWitt struck out, Juan Pierre hit a ground ball up the middle which bounced off Borowski's leg, allowing Berroa to score and Martin to advance to third.

After Pierre stole second, Wedge elected to walk Kemp to load the bases for Kent, who tied the score with a fielder's choice.

Rookie Andy LaRoche had a chance to give the Dodgers the win but flew out to center field to end the threat.

"We didn't get discouraged, I'm pleased with the fight we showed coming back, especially after Lee dominated the whole game." Dodgers manager Joe Torre said.

The Indians loaded the bases with no outs in the 10th off Dodgers closer Takashi Saito (3-3). However, Franklin Gutierrez hit a ground ball to shortstop and Berroa started the double playing by throwing home to Martin, who threw to third in time to nail the runner.

Peralta didn't let the opportunity slip away, though, stroking a double over the head of Dodgers right fielder Andre Ethier.

"I know I have been struggling and in that situation it's hard, I needed to do the best I could," Peralta said. "I was looking for a fastball away and the second pitch was a fastball away and I hit it hard."

Masa Kobayashi worked around a two-out single by Martin in the 10th to record his fourth save of the season.