Tribe's Sadler, Brigham outduel Webster

After giving up season highs in hits (12) and runs (four) last time out against Norfolk, Triple-A Indianapolis's Casey Sadler was hoping for a bounceback performance Wednesday against Pawtucket.

It's pretty easy to say he got what he wanted.

The right-handed starter combined with Jake Brigham to two-hit the PawSox and lead the Indians to a 3-1 win in a matinee affair at Victory Field.

Sadler established a season high with seven strikeouts and allowed only an unearned run on one hit and three walks in his six frames on the hill. Brigham, who had previously made six starts but no relief appearances this season, notched his first save of the season after striking out four and allowing one hit and two walks over the final three innings.

The May 9 start against Norfolk is the only bump in the road in an otherwise impressive start to the season for Sadler. The 23-year-old right-hander is 4-1 with a 2.15 ERA, 28 strikeouts and nine walks through six starts (37 2/3 innings) with the Indians. He made his Major League debut for the Pirates on May 2 and scattered two hits and two walks while fanning three across a pair of two-inning relief appearances before returning to the International League.

The Indianapolis starter outperformed his Pawtucket counterpart, No. 2 Red Sox prospect Allen Webster, who allowed two earned runs on four hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings. The 24-year-old right-hander set a season high with nine strikeouts and indeed fanned four of the final six batters he faced before exiting with 103 pitches (66 for strikes). His record dropped to 2-2 while his season ERA bumped slightly to 2.55.

Indians center fielder Chris Dickerson and first baseman Matt Hague both went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Top Pirates prospect Gregory Polanco went 0-for-2 but also walked twice.

No. 4 Red Sox prospect Garin Cecchini collected one of Pawtucket's two hits on the afternoon, finishing 1-for-3 with a walk and his fifth stolen base.