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Hafner's big evening ends Indians losing skid

Apr 21, 2007 - 4:30 AM ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- There are a few special hitters that can carry a team. On occasion, Travis Hafner can impose his will to carry the Cleveland Indians to victory.

Hafner homered and plated the go-ahead run and Joe Borowski recovered from a disastrous outing as the Indians nailed down a 4-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the first game of a three-game set.

Hafner, who had multi-hit games in each of the Indians' previous three losses, reached base in all five plate appearances, going 3-for-3 with two walks. His two-run homer in the third inning allowed the Indians to take a 2-0 lead.

"I've been swinging the bat a lot better than at the start of the season," Hafner said. "I'm just kind of looking to take swings and get on a roll."

After Tampa Bay tied the contest, 3-3, on Victor Martinez's throwing error in the seventh, Hafner lined a single off Devil Rays reliever Al Reyes in the ninth to score Andy Marte for a 4-3 advantage. Marte started the inning with a double off Juan Salas (0-1).

"It was a changeup (to Hafner)," Reyes said. "I left it up a little bit. It was a good at-bat."

Roberto Hernandez (1-1) pitched a perfect eighth to get the win. Borowski, who was shelled by the Yankees for six runs and five hits in just two-thirds of an inning a day earlier, pitched an uneventful ninth for his sixth save.

"It was good to get Joe back out there," Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said. "He did a good job and finished it off tonight. It was good for our guys to get back out there and play and get a 'W' under our belt."

C.C. Sabathia, who was denied the opportunity to become the majors' first four-game winner, allowed three runs - two earned - and seven hits with a walk and eight strikeouts over seven innings.

"I am just trying to go out there and just trying to help us get a win," Sabathia said. "Today, I felt like I lost my command a little bit there in the fifth.

"I'm not (disappointed) at all (about not getting the win). I am just glad we won the game. After coming from New York and getting swept, we needed a win. We needed this. It feels good to be on the winning end of the game and just hopefully we (can) keep it up now."

B.J. Upton homered and Carl Crawford had two hits for the Devil Rays, who have lost three of their last four games.

"When you face the good guys (Sabathia), they don't give up much," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "You need to force them. I love the fight (of the Devil Rays). The dugout is alive. We believe we can win."