Pittsburgh @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 16, 2012 ) Pittsburgh 9, Cleveland 2

Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle has been loyal to Pedro Alvarez almost to a fault, keeping him in the lineup even as the 25-year-old third baseman was mired in a prolonged slump that dropped his batting average to .189 entering the weekend series with the Cleveland Indians. Alvarez rewarded Hurdle's patience by swatting a pair of home runs in Saturday's 9-2 victory, snapping a 13-game homerless drought and helping Pittsburgh halt a four-game skid.

Cleveland's offense continues to sputter, producing only 17 runs in the last seven games and continually failing to come up with the clutch hit. The Indians were 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position Saturday and are 2-for-33 in such situations over the last four games. Cleveland also saw center fielder Michael Brantley's 22-game hitting streak - the longest in the majors - come to an end Saturday.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, ROOT (Pittsburgh), SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Brad Lincoln (3-2, 3.15 ERA) vs. Indians RH Jeanmar Gomez (4-5, 4.71 ERA)

Lincoln has struggled since being moved back into the starting rotation. He was roughed up for four runs on nine hits in 4 1/3 innings at Baltimore last time out and allowed five runs on six hits in four innings against Cincinnati in his previous start. With a 4-9 record in 20 career starts, he could be headed back to the bullpen when Jeff Karstens comes off the disabled list.

After three successive rocky outings, Gomez turned in a solid effort in his last start, limiting the Cincinnati Reds to two runs on six hits in five innings. Still, he has allowed 19 runs in 20 2/3 innings over his last four starts, failing to get through six innings in either of them. Control has been an issue for Gomez, who has walked four batters in three of his last seven starts.

WALK-OFFS:

1. Pirates 1B Casey McGehee extended his hitting streak to five games with a homer and four RBIs. He has lifted his batting average from .195 to .243 in the last seven games.

2. Indians DH Johnny Damon drew career walk No. 1,000, putting him 114th on the all-time list.

3. Indians closer Chris Perez has converted 21 straight saves and is tied with Doug Jones for the second-longest streak in franchise history.