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Carmona, Hafner lead Indians past Orioles

May 7, 2007 - 9:48 PM BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- The Cleveland Indians and Baltimore Orioles are heading in opposite directions.

Fausto Carmona pitched seven strong innings and the Indians scored nine runs in their final three at-bats in a 10-1 thumping of the Orioles on Monday.

Grady Sizemore and Trot Nixon drove in two runs apiece and Travis Hafner belted a grand slam for the Indians, who have won 12 of their last 15 games. Conversely, Baltimore has dropped 11-of-14 contests, including the last two games of this four-game series.

"I'm just proud of how these guys came back these last two games particularly on the road," Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said. "We had that first game and let it slip away and they beat us up pretty good the second game. Our guys are playing consistently and they show up and play the same way everyday."

Carmona (3-1) allowed one unearned run, seven hits and one walk while striking out two to improve to 3-0 with a 1.17 ERA in his last three starts.

"I just had to get the ball down to get a lot of ground balls and stay ahead of the hitters," Carmona said.

Chad Bradford (0-1) took the loss, allowing two runs and two hits in just one-third of an inning. Steve Trachsel started for the Orioles and allowed one run, six hits and a walk in six innings.

"He got a little tired," Baltimore manager Sam Perlozzo said. "We pushed him last game a little bit and extended him."

Trachsel threw seven innings in the Orioles' 3-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday. Once Trachsel left Monday's game, the Indians pounded Baltimore's bullpen.

Bradford started the seventh inning and recorded the first out before allowing back-to-back infield singles to pinch-hitter David Dellucci and Josh Barfield.

"Dellucci came up with that big hit to start off the inning that gave us a few runs," Wedge said.

Lefthander John Parrish was called upon to face the lefthanded Sizemore, who drove the first pitch he saw for a ground-rule double, as the ball hopped the wall in left-center field.

Parrish intentionally walked Casey Blake to load the bases for Hafner, who struck out looking for the second out. Parrish followed up the strikeout by issuing a walk to Victor Martinez, pushing across a run and giving the Indians a 3-1 lead.

Nixon, who had three hits, blew open the contest with a two-run single to center. Parrish struck out Ryan Garko to end the inning, in which Cleveland batted around.

"I just stuck to my game plan pretty much and didn't try to do to much," said Nixon, who had five hits in Cleveland's win here on Sunday.

The Indians sent eight batters to the plate in the eighth.

Lefthander Jamie Walker started the inning for Baltimore and allowed a leadoff single to Jhonny Peralta. After getting Dellucci to strikeout, the 35-year-old Walker walked Barfield and allowed Casey Blake to reach base safely two batters later on a fielder's choice.

That set the stage for Hafner, who drove a 2-2 pitch over the wall in right-center for his ninth career grand slam and his seventh home run of the season.

"I think it was a changeup," said Hafner, who came into the plate appearance with just three hits in 24 at-bats against Baltimore this season. "I have been inconstant at times with my swing this year but today I actually felt pretty good. I felt like I hit the ball well."

Peralta hit a solo home run in the ninth off Todd Williams to round out Cleveland's scoring.

Cleveland managed just one run through the first six innings of the game, tallying in the third inning.

Barfield got on base with a one-out single, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch by Trachsel. Barfield scored the first run of the game moments later off Sizemore's single to right.

The Orioles knotted the game in the fourth thanks to a defensive lapse by the Indians.

With two outs, Aubrey Huff reached first on a throwing error by Barfield at second base. Huff moved to second on Melvin Mora's single and came in to score when Jay Payton singled to right.

A walk to Kevin Millar loaded the bases, but Carmona induced a ground out from Corey Patterson to prevent further damage.

"This was another great effort by Fausto," Wedge said. "He didn't miss a beat. He did a good job of pounding both sides of the plate effectively. He just knows what he needs to do to be successful."

Carmona had started four games for the Indians this season, going 2-1 with a 3.76 ERA, but was sent down to Class AAA Buffalo last week to make room for the return of lefthander Cliff Lee, who missed the first month of the season due to injury.

However, the Indians were forced to recall Carmona to replace Jake Westbrook, who was placed on the disabled list with an abdominal strain.

"I threw a couple of bullpens in (Class AAA)," Carmona said. "I was surprised that I was called up because I didn't expect anything to happen."