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Tribe welcome Sizemore back in finale with O's

Apr 17, 2011 - 2:29 PM (Sports Network) - Fausto Carmona tries to get on the winning track this afternoon when the Cleveland Indians aim to complete a three-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field.

Carmona will also have a familiar face in the lineup, as outfielder Grady Sizemore has been activated from the disabled list and will appear in his first game since May 16 of last season.

Sizemore, who will bat leadoff and play center field this afternoon for the Tribe, has been recovering since undergoing microfracture surgery on his left knee last June. The former All-Star hasn't played a full season since 2008, when he hit .268 with 33 home runs, 39 doubles, 38 stolen bases and 90 RBI over 157 contests.

He appeared in five minor league games before being activated and batted .353 (6-for-17) with a home run and four RBI.

Carmona, meanwhile, has pitched exceptionally well the last two starts, but has not received a win because Cleveland's offense has been nonexistent in those two games. He allowed two hits in seven shutout frames against Boston on April 7 and then yielded four hits and a pair of runs over 7 2/3 frames in a 2-0 Indians loss against the Angels on Tuesday.

The right-hander is 3-4 with a 6.15 ERA in nine games (7 starts) lifetime against the Orioles.

Brad Bergesen gets the starting assignment for the Orioles today. The righty makes his second start of the season. In his first outing, he gave up four runs in 3 2/3 innings against Detroit on April 6. He was then sent to the minors for a short stint before returning to pitch two scoreless frames against the Yankees on Wednesday.

The Orioles are hoping Bergesen can repeat from his performance last August 11, when he gave up just one run on two hits en route to the second complete game of his young career of a 3-1 win in Cleveland.

On Saturday, Orlando Cabrera belted a two-run homer and finished with four RBI, as Cleveland continued its surge at Progressive Field with an 8-3 win. Matt LaPorta drove in two runs, while Travis Hafner and Travis Buck both collected three hits for the Indians, who notched their sixth straight home victory.

Cleveland starter Josh Tomlin (3-0) yielded solo home runs to Jake Fox and Luke Scott among six hits over six innings.

"He labored a little bit ... but he knows what to do and gave us six good innings of baseball," Indians manager Manny Acta said of his starter.

Jeremy Guthrie (1-2) allowed six runs on 10 hits in five full frames for Baltimore, which has lost six in a row to fall below .500 after starting the season with a 6-1 record.

"He didn't have the finish on some of his pitches like he usually does," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said of Guthrie.

Baltimore and Cleveland split six meetings a year ago. The Indians have won six of the last eight home games versus the Orioles.