Nagy Defeats Cubs, 9-5; Indians Acquire Roberts

As usual, Charles Nagy didn’t think he pitched that well. He could have fooled Mark Grace, the Chicago Cubs and everyone who watched.

Nagy looked ready for September, baffling the Cubs with fluttering forkballs and sinkers as the Cleveland Indians defeated Chicago, 9-5, on Sunday.

“I tell you what, that guy’s a heck of a pitcher,” said Grace, who tripled for the second consecutive day but felt silly on a strikeout in the seventh inning. “I got myself into what I thought was a great hitting count, and he came back and made it 3-2. Then he threw a beautiful split-fingered fastball, and that just hurt my feelings.”

After facing Nagy for the first time, it was obvious to Grace why the right-hander is tied with Toronto’s Pat Hentgen for the third-most victories in the majors since 1994.

Nagy (13-9) gave up one earned run and nine hits in seven innings, walking two and striking out five. He countered Grace’s compliments with a typical aw-shucks reply.

“Mark’s a very nice guy, that’s why he said that,” Nagy said. “I was disappointed, and the reason was that I thought I could have pitched better than I did.”

The Indians, who acquired leadoff hitter Bip Roberts from Kansas City during the game, took two of three from the Cubs in the interleague series--the first between the clubs since 1899.