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Sizemore homers in season debut, Indians sweep O's

Apr 18, 2011 - 1:26 AM Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Grady Sizemore homered in his season-debut as the Cleveland Indians completed a three-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles with a 4-2 victory at Progressive Field.

Cleveland also got solo homers from Carlos Santana and Travis Hafner, while Fausto Carmona threw seven strong innings for his first win of the year. The Indians swept Baltimore in a three-game set for the first time since September of 2009 and have won seven straight games at home.

Baltimore, meanwhile, has dropped seven straight after a 6-1 start. Brian Roberts stroked three hits and scored a run in defeat.

Sizemore played a big league game for the first time since last May 16, as his 2010 season was cut short by a knee injury that required microfracture surgery in June. He was back in his customary leadoff spot, playing center field, and finished 2-for-4 with a third-inning homer and a double in the fifth.

"When the game started, I had all the jitters going. I just wanted to get in there and get going," said Sizemore.

Carmona (1-2) limited the Orioles to a pair of runs -- one earned -- on five hits with one walk and five strikeouts in his third straight solid outing after the White Sox battered him for 10 runs and 11 hits in three innings on Opening Day. He has surrendered just three earned runs on 11 hits over 21 2/3 innings over his last three starts, but was victimized by a lack of run support in his previous two outings.

"A very good outing today by Fausto," said Indians manager Manny Acta. "The first time through the order he was very good with first-pitch strikes. The second time through he wasn't as good, but he always seemed to make a pitch when he needed to."

Brad Bergesen (0-2) took the loss after yielding three runs -- two earned -- on six hits in five innings. He was making his second start of the year, and his first since April 6 against Detroit, having been sent to the minors for a brief stint before throwing two scoreless innings of relief against the Yankees on Wednesday.

Santana ended an 0-for-23 drought with his second homer of the season to start the home second, giving the Tribe a 1-0 edge, and Sizemore's blast in the third made it 2-0.

The Orioles didn't register a hit until the fourth when Roberts singled. He took third on a base hit by Nick Markakis and scored when Derrek Lee grounded into a double play.

Cleveland got the run right back in the bottom of the frame. Orlando Cabrera reached on an infield single with two outs, advancing to second on the play when third baseman Mark Reynolds threw the ball away. Travis Buck followed with a single to right, scoring Cabrera for a 3-1 edge.

Baltimore had two on with one out in the sixth, but Markakis grounded into a double play, and Cleveland picked up another run on Hafner's one-out homer in the bottom of the inning.

The Orioles added one in the seventh. Lee walked and took third when Shin-Soo Choo misplayed Guerrero's single to right for an error. Luke Scott then drove home Lee with a line out to left field. Cleveland first baseman Matt LaPorta saved a run later in the inning when he made a brilliant scoop of a low throw by Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera for the final out to strand Guerrero.

Tony Sipp replaced Carmona in the eighth and gave up only a two-out double to Roberts. Chris Perez then set down the Orioles in order in the ninth for his fifth save in as many opportunities.

"Obviously, our offense isn't clicking right now," said Lee. "We have to find a way to score some runs and take pressure off the pitcher."

Game Notes

Cleveland posted its third sweep of the season, having also taken three from Boston and three from Seattle...Carmona improved to 4-4 lifetime against the Orioles...The Indians opened a roster spot for Sizemore by placing pitcher Mitch Talbot on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right elbow...The Orioles went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left three on base...Baltimore heads home on Monday to open a four-game series against Minnesota, while Cleveland starts a four-game set in Kansas City on Monday.