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Barfield snaps post-All-Star funk in Indians' win

Jul 23, 2007 - 5:24 AM ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- Josh Barfield wanted to put the last 1 1/2 weeks behind him.

Barfield hit a two-run single and scored twice, helping the Cleveland Indians past the Texas Rangers, 8-3, on Sunday.

Barfield, who was batting just .139 (4-for-29) since the All-Star Game, recorded the first of his three hits in the fourth off Rangers starter Robinson Tejeda (5-9) when he plated Jason Michaels and Trot Nixon to place the Indians up, 2-0.

"It seems like every day, there's someone different contributing," Barfield said. "Top to bottom, we're going to find a way score runs and try to beat you."

After notching his second hit and later scoring on a wild pitch - the last of three wild pitches by the Rangers' pitching staff - in the sixth to increase the lead to 6-0, the 24-year-old Venezuelan scored his second run in the eighth on a sacrifice fly from Victor Martinez to push the bulge out to 8-3.

Casey Blake added three hits for the Indians, who moved to 51-17 in contests where they scored four or more runs.

"I've never faced Tejada," Blake said. "That first double was pretty lucky and I got lucky on the last hit to with the bases loaded. I'll take 'em though."

Paul Byrd (8-4) allowed just one hit through four innings, but experienced an highly uncharacteristic inning in the fifth. The righthander, who led all major league starters in walks allowed per nine innings entering the contest, walked the bases loaded to open the frame before striking out Travis Metcalf and getting Kenny Lofton to ground into a double play to end the threat.

"I don't think I really shook the trouble I've had in this park in the past," Byrd said. "I struggled gripping the ball all night. I struggled with the mound. I was constantly cleaning dirt off, but this is a game of adjustments. I just could not figure it out and I have no idea how I got out of that."

It marked the first time since September 17, 2006, that Byrd had issued at least three walks in a game and the first time in his major league career that he walked the bases loaded.

"It's one thing to go out there and have a tough inning like Paul did tonight, but it's another thing to get out of it yourself," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "That was really big for him to come back in that inning and get us into the sixth."

Tejeda surrendered five runs - three earned - and five hits with five walks and four strikeouts over five frames. The righthander has lost three consecutive decisions and is winless in his last seven starts.

"Right now, it's difficult," Tejada said. "Today, I looked more aggressive and had my stuff, but I keep walking batters. If I can stop that, I will be OK."

Marlon Byrd had three hits for the Rangers, who fell to 4-33 in games in which they allow more than four runs.

"It was frustrating for them to take three of four from us," Byrd said. "We thought we could take the series with them because we've been playing so well lately."