The Cleveland Indians snapped the New York Yankees' three-game winning streak on Tuesday, with pinch-hitter David Dellucci's eighth-inning three-run homer lifting them to a 5-3 victory.
Dellucci's blast came off New York reliever Joba Chamberlain and was only the second career home run off the young Yankee pitcher.
Chamberlain had allowed just three earned runs in 36 1/3 career innings since making his MLB debut last August, but Delucci's homer proved decisive.
A dejected Chamberlain blamed the defeat on a bad pitch.
"I tried to get in," Chamberlain said of the pitch, which Dellucci hit over the wall in right.
"You got to give credit where credit is due. Dellucci did what he is supposed to do. The worst thing is I let my team down and that's the most frustrating part to me."
It was the first time the Yankees had lost this season after having led at seven innings. They fell to 26-5 in games when Chamberlain pitches.
New York manager Joe Girardi, however, did not blame his pitcher.
"When you make a mistake sometimes, it can cost you," Girardi said.
Reuters
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