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Byrd helps Indians win fourth straight

Sep 12, 2007 - 5:50 AM By Chris Melnyczenko PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Cleveland Indians continue to solidify their lead in the American League Central.

Paul Byrd pitched effectively into the seventh inning and Travis Hafner drove in three runs as the Indians won their fourth consecutive game, an 8-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday.

Asdrubal Cabrera drove in the go-ahead run in the sixth for Cleveland, which has taken five of six series from Chicago this season and recorded its 11th win of the year over its divisional foe.

"(The team) has done a good job of keeping their head down and just keep pushing," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "Asdrubal has done a great job here. He has produced in so many different situations. I can't say enough about the job he's done in the short amount of time he's been here."

The Indians (85-60) sit 6 1/2 games on top of the AL Central as the Detroit Tigers (79-67) split a doubleheader with the Texas Rangers on Tuesday. The streaking Indians are now 20-6 since August 15 and have won 14 of their last 19 road games.

Byrd (15-6) is now 5-1 in his last six starts, giving up three runs on six hits over 6 1/3 innings. The 36-year-old veteran also walked one and struck out one.

"I'm really excited about (my record)," Byrd said. "I thought I pitched well tonight, (and) I want to finish up the year strong. This year, so far, I've thrown the ball a lot better than last year. I'm excited to be a part of what's going on."

Byrd's only struggles came against Juan Uribe. The Dominican shortstop blasted a game-tying solo shot in the second inning and added a two-run homer in the fourth, which also tied the game at 3-3. Uribe, who has six career multi-homer games, has 18 blasts this season.

"Uribe wore me out tonight," Byrd said. "You really got to tip your hat. He's a good hitter with a lot of power, which is unusual for a shortstop. He gave me some trouble tonight."

Cabrera's ground-rule double plated Casey Blake to give the Indians a 4-3 advantage in the sixth inning. Cabrera now owns a 10-game hitting streak, including helping Cleveland to a 18-7 record when he starts.

Chicago reliever Lance Broadway (0-1) got the loss after giving up a lead off double to Blake in the decisive frame.

The Indians scored two more runs in the inning on back-to-back RBI walks relinquished by White Sox reliever Matt Thornton, who relieved Broadway.

Hafner, who had three hits and two walks, delivered a two-run single in the third frame to give the Indians a 3-1 lead. He also belted an RBI single in the seventh to cap the scoring.

Ryan Garko's 18th blast of the year tallied the first run of the game in the second inning.

"This team has done a great job staying in the moment and taking it one at a time," Garko said. "We're going to finish this road trip strong. That's the most important thing now."

After a miserable August, White Sox starter Danks' first start this month did not go so well either. The 22-year-old Danks gave up three runs on three hits and four walks with three strikeouts over 2 2/3 innings - his shortest outing of the season. Danks is now 0-7 with a 7.84 ERA in his last seven starts.

"The days of rest didn't work for (Danks)," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "He didn't have a feeling for the ball, he couldn't find the strike zone."

Indians' catcher Kelly Shoppach was hit by a pitch from Danks to begin the third. Danks next walked Grady Sizemore, before giving up a single two batters later to Travis Hafner, scoring both Shoppach and Sizemore.

Danks walked two more batters in the inning to load the bases before he was replaced with Broadway.