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Sizemore powers Indians past Royals

Aug 20, 2008 - 3:28 AM By Todd Krepop PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Grady Sizemore ended his home run slump with a bang.

Sizemore blasted a three-run home run and the Cleveland Indians went on to defeat the Kansas City Royals 9-4, on Tuesday night.

Shin-Soo Choo and Ryan Garko also homered for the Indians, who have won three of their last four games.

Sizemore entered the game having not homered since July 31, but that streak came to an end as he blasted Leo Nunez's first pitch over the right field wall for his team-leading 28th of the season.

"It's just one day," said Sizemore, who equaled his career-high in home runs. "Obviously this has been a tough stretch, though I've been feeling good up there of late. That's how it is with one of these slumps."

With the Indians holding a 4-3 edge, Kelly Shoppach walked with one out and Andy Marte followed with a double to left. After a groundout kept the runners at second and third, the Royals elected to have Nunez face Sizemore with first base open, but the move backfired as Sizemore's home run broke the game open.

"I was looking for something out over the plate that I could drive," Sizemore said.

Despite the slump, Sizemore has been the one bright spot for Cleveland this season. Expected to contend for the American League Central Division, injuries and poor play have torpedoed Cleveland, which is battling the Royals to stay out of the basement.

"Grady has been the one constant for us this season," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "He only knows one way to play - all out. He continues to step up for us."

Cleveland starter Anthony Reyes (2-1) yielded two runs on six hits in five innings. The righthander struck out three batters and walked three batters in his third start with the Indians.

"I am throwing strikes around the zone," Reyes said. "It has been going good."

Choo's solo home run in second tied the game at 1-1, blasting Royals starter Luke Hochevar's first pitch into the bleachers in left field.

Cleveland tacked on two more runs in the second on an RBI double from Shoppach and an RBI single by Asdrubal Cabrera.

Garko's solo home run in the fourth off Hochevar extended Cleveland's lead to 4-1.

"I am just going up there, trying to work some counts and get pitches to hit," said Garko, who is batting .405 in his last 10 games. "It is one of those streaks you hope to keep going."

Hochevar (6-12) allowed four runs on seven hits in five innings before leaving with tightness in his rib cage. It was the fifth straight loss for Hochevar, who hasn't won since July 11 against Seattle.

"I went to warm up and on the first pitch, it took my breath away," Hochevar said. "I tried to throw another pitch and something in my rib cage just grabbed me."

Jose Guillen drove in two runs for the Royals, who have dropped 10 of their last 12 games.

"The difference in our hits and (Cleveland's) hits was they had more slug hits," Royals manager Trey Hillman said.