Baez Heats Up and Indians Win

Since leaving Cuba, Danys Baez has acclimated to American life.

He can’t get used to the weather.

“Never like Havana,” Baez said, pulling on a turtleneck sweater. “It was cold, but at least not snowing.”

Baez pitched 51/3 shutout innings in the chilly conditions and Travis Fryman and Russell Branyan homered as the Cleveland Indians ended a six-game losing streak Monday night, defeating the Chicago White Sox, 4-2, at Cleveland.

Finally home after going 0-6 and getting swept in Chicago and Minnesota, the Indians improved to 7-0 at Jacobs Field and ended their longest losing skid in two years.

Baez, who defected from Cuba and lived in Costa Rica before coming to Cleveland, didn’t seem to be bothered by having to pitch in temperatures that dipped into the 30s. He struck out a career-high seven and walked one.

Baez laughed when asked how cold it got in Cuba.

“Seventy,” he said.

After giving up two singles in the sixth, Baez was replaced by Ricardo Rincon, who got Ray Durham to bounce into an inning-ending double play.

Jose Valentin’s two-run homer in the seventh off David Riske got the White Sox within 4-2, and Chicago put two runners on with two out in the eighth. But Paul Shuey struck out Frank Thomas on a low pitch to end the threat.

Bob Wickman pitched the ninth for his sixth save.

Kenny Lofton, who played nine seasons with the Indians, returned for the first time with the White Sox and went one for three and was thrown out trying to steal.

Kansas City 6, Detroit 0--Paul Byrd pitched a six-hitter to improve to 4-0 and lead the Royals at Kansas City. Byrd, who has all but two of the Royals’ victories, became the first Kansas City pitcher to win his first four decisions since Bret Saberhagen started 6-0 in 1987.

Byrd struck out four in his first shutout since last Aug. 17 against Houston. In 281/3 innings, the former Philadelphia Phillie All-Star has not walked a batter.

Carlos Beltran had a homer and a double for the Royals, who got four runs in the first off Mark Redman (0-3).