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Indians aim for another win as they resume series with Twins

Jul 19, 2011 - 2:53 PM (Sports Network) - Putting a few losses in the past with a doubleheader sweep has to feel quite rewarding. The Cleveland Indians did just that to the Minnesota Twins to kick off a four-game series and the two AL Central inhabitants get back to work tonight from Target Field.

Coming off two tough losses in Baltimore over the weekend, the division- leading Indians used strong pitching Monday to complete a twinbill sweep. David Huff threw seven shutout innings for the Tribe in his season debut in a 5-2 win during the afternoon and Vinnie Pestano posted his second save.

"Nice job by David Huff. He was able to hold them down for seven innings," said Cleveland manager Manny Acta.

All-Star Asdrubal Cabrera backed Huff with a three-run homer during a four-run third inning and Austin Kearns went deep in the ninth for Cleveland, which is a game ahead of Detroit and seven games in front of Minnesota for the AL Central lead. Ezequiel Carrera drove in a run during the first game.

With the temperatures reaching scorching degrees in the nightcap, a 6-3 win by the Indians, Fausto Carmona tried to stay cool on the mound by changing his cap and undershirt six times in six innings of work. Carmona held the Twins to a pair of runs and allowed seven hits for the win.

"At the beginning, he was kind of too strong," Acta said of his starter. "He battled a little bit with his control. But then he got into a little rhythm after the third, and did a very good job. He kept us there, kept them at bay and gave us an opportunity."

Carlos Santana homered, Travis Hafner had two runs batted in and Michael Brantley finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored to lift the Indians to their fourth win in six tries on this eight-game road trip and 10th in 17 tries overall. On Monday, the Tribe placed outfielder Grady Sizemore on the disabled list with a knee injury. He is slated to undergo tests back in Cleveland and is batting .237 with 10 homers and 29 RBI in 61 games.

Grady joins fellow outfielder Shin-Soo Choo on the DL. Choo underwent thumb surgery and is not expected to return until September. He is hitting .244 with five homers and 28 RBI through 72 games.

Justin Masterson has lasted at least five innings in all 19 starts this season and has made just one relief appearance. Masterson gets the call tonight for the Tribe and is 3-0 in his previous four starts after going winless (0-6) in the previous 11 outings. Masterson, who opened the season 5-0 with a 2.11 earned run average in his first 11 starts, defeated Baltimore on the road last Thursday in an 8-4 win from Camden Yards to improve to 8-6 in 20 games (19 starts) with a 2.80 ERA.

Despite being reached for four runs and eight hits in six innings, Masterson was able to notch another win to his belt. The right-hander is still searching for his first win against Minnesota and lost to the Twins on June 8, when he fired eight innings of two-run ball in a 3-2 loss. Masterson is 0-4 with a 4.37 ERA in nine career games (6 starts) in this series.

Minnesota entered the doubleheader having won four of five and 12 of its last 16 games, but Anthony Swarzak wasn't able to contain Cleveland's bats in the matinee affair, allowing four runs -- three earned -- and six hits, including Cabrera's homer, in six innings. He managed to strike out four batters and issued no walks.

"There were a few pitches I wish I could have back, that one included," Swarzak said. "I was rushing through my delivery today, and they made me pay. That was a huge inning in a game like this, where we were in and off the field as quick as possible. It's tough giving up a four-spot in the third."

Michael Cuddyer hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth and Joe Mauer recorded three hits and a run scored for the Twins, who got a chance to see what starter Scott Diamond can do on the mound in the second game. Diamond had a similar line to Swarzak and permitted four runs, three of which were earned, and seven hits in 6 1/3 frames. He had one K and walked two batters.

Danny Valencia and Trevor Plouffe both homered and Mauer turned in another three-hit performance. Mauer drove in a run to pass Roy Smalley for 11th on the franchise's all-time list (486).

Francisco Liriano has won three of his last four decisions and gets the nod for the Twins tonight. Liriano was last in action in Thursday's 8-4 win versus Kansas City and he held the Royals to three runs, one of which was earned, and seven hits in seven innings.

He rebounded from a July 6 outing against Tampa Bay in which he lasted only 4 1/3 innings and allowed five runs and six hits. The lefty hopes to even his season mark tonight and is 6-7 with a 4.76 ERA in 16 starts. He lost to Cleveland on June 7 at Progressive Field, where he was reached for one unearned run and three hits in five innings. Liriano is 5-4 with a 3.23 ERA in 13 career games (11 starts) against the Tribe.

The Twins are 16-9 against Cleveland since the start of the 2010 campaign.