Bullpen comes up big to stymie Seattle

SEATTLE -- Something had to give eventually. The Indians were piling up hits at a rapid rate on Sunday afternoon, but they were struggling mightily to turn them into runs.

While the offense labored to break free from the lull, Cleveland's bullpen held the Mariners in check, buying time for the Tribe to pull off its 6-3 comeback win in 12 innings at Safeco Field. After 11 trying innings, the Indians broke through for three runs in the final frame, capturing a third win in the four-game series in Seattle.

"You can get to a point sometimes where there's a stagnant feeling, but I didn't feel that," Indians outfielder David Murphy said of the early offensive woes. "I felt like everybody was going to keep battling and grinding it out until we got it done. Obviously, that was the right mentality to take and it got us a win."

The Indians finished with 18 hits, including a two-run double in the 12th from Murphy that gave the club a three-run lead. Prior to Murphy's at-bat, Cleveland's Michael Brantley drew a bases-loaded walk to push the Tribe to a 4-3 advantage. It was the kind of breakthrough that was badly needed for the Indians, who went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position before the last inning.

Cleveland was threatening to have its first game since 1979 that included 16 or more hits but no more than three runs.

"There was a lot of frustration during the game, but we kept at it," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "I was glad, when we got one, we got more, because you know that they've got those big guys coming up, if anybody gets on base."

The three-run cushion proved ample for hard-throwing right-hander Austin Adams, who retired the Mariners in order to seal the win.

"First career save," Adams said with a smile. "And first beer shower."

Following 5 1/3 innings from Indians starter Danny Salazar, Cleveland's bullpen delivered 6 2/3 shutout innings. Nick Hagadone, Ryan Webb, Bryan Shaw, Cody Allen, Zach McAllister and Adams all got work in, combining for one hit allowed, two walks and six strikeouts. Shaw worked a pair of shutout innings in the middle to help Francona piece together the final frames.

"That was huge," Francona said.

It turned what could have been a frustrating game into a satisfying win.

"I thought we did a great job," McAllister said. "Everyone came in and threw the ball very well and competed the way that we needed to. Shaw being able to go those two innings was huge for us. He gave us a little bit extra length and what Adams was able to do is exciting. To be able to do that in a big-time game like that is a good feeling for him."