Home runs carry Pirates to 11th victory in a row

CLEVELAND — Starling Marte, Gregory Polanco and Josh Bell each hit two-run home runs, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Cleveland Indians 9-4 on Tuesday night for their 11th consecutive victory.

The Pirates routed the Indians for the second consecutive night. Marte homered in the first inning, drove in three runs and extended his career-high hitting streak to 17 games.

Polanco homered and Corey Dickerson tripled in two runs when Pittsburgh scored five times in the second. Bell hit a home run in the fifth. The Pirates have hit home runs in a season-high nine consecutive games, hitting 22 home runs in that span.

Pittsburgh has won 11 in a row for the first time since Sept. 12-22, 1996. The Pirates have won 13 of 14 and are 17-8 since June 24. Pittsburgh has outscored its opponents 43-8 in the last five games.

Joe Musgrove (4-4) allowed 2 runs and 5 hits in 7 innings for his first victory since June 29.

Shane Bieber (5-2), called up from Class AAA Columbus to make the start, allowed seven runs in 1 2 /3 innings. The short outing forced the Indians to use seven relievers.

Pittsburgh rolled to a 7-0, rain-shortened victory over reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber on Monday. The offense jumped ahead early again when Dickerson doubled to start the game and Marte drove a 2-1 pitch into the left field bleachers for his 16th home run.

Pittsburgh’s second-inning runs came with two outs. Dickerson’s drive with runners on first and second sent center fielder Tyler Naquin

to the wall. Naquin attempted to make a leaping catch, but the ball glanced off the side of his glove and rolled along the track.

Marte followed with an infield hit, and Polanco belted his 18th home run to right. Bell hit his sixth home run to right off Neil Ramirez.