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Martinez propels Indians past White Sox

Sep 3, 2008 - 3:40 AM By Todd Krepop PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Even Victor Martinez had a tough time remembering when he hit his last home run.

Martinez hit his first home run in nearly a year and the Cleveland Indians went on to rout the Chicago White Sox, 9-3, on Tuesday night.

Asdrubal Cabrera had three hits and knocked in two runs for the Indians, who sent the White Sox to their fifth loss in their last six games.

"Something's missing," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. "We have to find out (what it is) right away because if we continue to play like that, it's not going to be easy. It's going to be real tough to compete."

Despite the skid, Chicago (77-61) remains in a first-place tie in the American League Central Division with the Minnesota Twins (77-61), who dropped a 7-5 decision to the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday.

Martinez's home run in the second staked the Indians to a 2-0 lead. After a walk to Jhonny Peralta to start the inning, Martinez blasted a John Danks' fastball over the left-field wall for his first home run since September 25, 2007.

"It felt great," Martinez said. "I just put a nice little swing on the ball and it finally went out. It's hard to believe it has been that long."

Martinez strained his hamstring on Opening Day and that affected his swing throughout much of the season. The All-Star catcher finally was forced to the DL on June 12 with loosed bodies in his right elbow that required surgery and sidelined Martinez until August 31.

"It's always good to fill a column," Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said. "(Martinez) has missed so much time and battle all those injuries, it was nice to see him go out and get that first one."

Fausto Carmona (8-5) allowed three runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings. The righthander, who has won his last three starts, struck out two batters, but struggled with his command - walking two batters and hitting two more.

"I am feeling more comfortable out there," Carmona said through an interpreter. "Everything is beginning to flow together."

Gutierrez knocked in two runs in the fourth with an RBI double. Andy Marte and Cabrera hit consecutive singles with one out and Gutierrez doubled off Danks one out later.

Danks (10-8) allowed four runs on eight hits in four innings in his second consecutive start which he failed to make it to the fifth.

Chicago cut the Indians lead to 4-3, but the Indians exploded for five runs in the seventh to take control of the game.

Peralta knocked in an RBI single and Shin-Soo Choo walked with the bases loaded. Cabrera followed Choo's walk with a two-run single and Grady Sizemore capped the seventh with an RBI single up the middle.

"That was big to extend the lead," Wedge said. "Our guys did a real good job that inning."

The run support was more than enough for Carmona, who was in control until running into trouble in the sixth. The White Sox tagged the Cleveland righthander for three runs in the inning, but Rafael Betancourt stranded the tying and go-ahead runs on base to preserve the lead.

Chicago was without All-Star Carlos Quentin and Ken Griffey Jr., both who are battling injuries. Quentin missed Tuesday's game with soreness in his left forearm and Griffey was out with tightness in his lower back. To make matters worse, third baseman Joe Crede left the game in the sixth inning with tightness in his lower back.

"We lost three guys in less than six hours, but I'm more concerned about the guys going out there and giving better energy," Guillen said. "It seems like we are tired. It seems like we are dead. There are a lot of things that we are missing right now."