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Garko leads Indians to sixth straight win

Sep 21, 2008 - 10:29 PM CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Ryan Garko helped the Cleveland Indians win their sixth straight game and climb over .500 for the first time in more than four months

Garko went 4-for-4 and drove in five runs Sunday, leading the Indians to a 10-5 triumph over the struggling Detroit Tigers.

The win improved Cleveland to 41-24 since July 10, as they now stand at 78-77, giving the club a winning record for the first time since it was 22-21 on May 17.

"It's nice to get back over .500, but I'd rather be talking about the playoffs," Garko said.

Garko laced a three-run triple in the first inning, giving the Indians a quick start. He also had a sacrifice fly in the fourth, doubled home a run in the seventh and singled twice.

"We had runners on base, so I got some chances to knock them in," Garko said. "It feels good to contribute. I got some pitches to hit. It was a good day for us."

Ben Francisco, Victor Martinez and Andy Marte each added a pair of hits and an RBI for Cleveland.

Scott Lewis (3-0) pitched five innings, allowing three runs and eight hits while striking out six and walking three. The lefthander brought in a 14-inning scoreless streak and extended it to 15 before the Tigers scored in the second.

"He's done very well since he's been here," Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said of Lewis. "He's shown a lot of poise and maturity."

Detroit starter Dontrelle Willis (0-2) lasted just 21/3 innings. He threw 74 pitches, including 33 in the first inning, and surrendered six runs and five hits while walking six and throwing three wild pitches. He struck out four.

"I didn't get the job done," Willis said. "I was battling my control. That's pretty much the game. I didn't play good baseball today."

The Tigers, who are 1-9 over their past 10 games, pulled within 3-2 on a double-play groundout by Brandon Inge in the second and an RBI single in the third from Gary Sheffield.

Cleveland responded with the three run in the bottom half of the third to reclaim control of the game. Marte drove in two of the runs with an infield single, and Asdrubal Cabrera added an RBI single later in the frame.

"There was some good stuff out there today," Wedge said. "The way they fight through a game or a series or a season. We've had a lot of adversity, but they never gave in."

Tigers shortstop Edgar Renteria hit a solo shot to left-center field off Lewis in the fifth, and the Tigers tacked on two late runs in the ninth on a run-scoring double by Curtis Granderson and an RBI single by Magglio Ordonez.

Detroit was managed by hitting coach Lloyd McLendon as manager Jim Leyland served the final game of a three-game suspension.