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Sizemore has huge day as Indians roll to sixth straight home win

May 17, 2007 - 4:54 AM CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Grady Sizemore and the Cleveland Indians step up their play at Jacobs Field.

Sizemore had two hits, scored three runs and stole two bases, and the Indians won their fifth straight game that C.C. Sabathia started at home en route to a 7-1 victory over the struggling Minnesota Twins on Wednesday.

Trot Nixon drove in three runs and Casey Blake had three hits and an RBI for the Indians, who have won six straight at home and 11 of 12 at Jacobs Field to improve their league-best record to 13-3 here.

Sizemore, who had just one hit in his previous three games before Tuesday's four-hit performance, continued his hot streak against Twins starter Carlos Silva, whom he is hitting .527 (19-for-36) against in his career.

"I've had some good swings the last couple of games," Sizemore said. "I still got some things I want to work on. It's a long season and you're going to have ups and downs, but I want to be consistent."

"Grady's being a little more aggressive the last couple of days," Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said. "He's starting to hit the ball hard."

Nick Punto had two hits and drove in the lone run for the Twins, who continue to scuffle without the presence of reigning American League batting champion Joe Mauer.

Minnesota has lost seven of nine since Mauer went on the disabled list with a strained left quadriceps muscle on May 6, and have dropped 11 of 14 overall.

"We have to find a way to get better results," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We're not being aggressive enough. We're going to try to everything we can do to put people in better situations."

Meanwhile, Sabathia (6-1) bounced back from his first loss of the season by retiring 12 of the last 13 batters he faced and allowed just one run and five hits over eight innings. He struck out five and walked one.

Sabathia responded well after allowing a season-high six runs in 6 2/3 innings against Oakland last Wednesday.

"I didn't pitch very well out in Oakland," Sabathia said. "I wanted to come back strong. I had to make some pitches in the first three or four innings to work out of some jams. I felt stronger as the night went on and got into a groove."

Tom Mastny pitched a scoreless ninth for Cleveland, which has won all four meetings between the teams this season.

The Indians took an early lead when Sizemore led off the first inning with a single to left. He scored from first when Blake smashed a 1-1 pitch down the left field line for an RBI double.

Sizemore raced around third and tumbled over home plate ahead of Michael Cuddyer's throw, deftly dragging his left leg over the plate for a 1-0 lead. Blake advanced to third on Cuddyer's throw and scored on a groundout by Travis Hafner for a 2-0 lead.

The 24-year-old center fielder had a hand in another run when he led off the third with a walk. Sizemore stole second and advanced to third when Carlos Silva uncorked a wild pitch that went all the way to the backstop. He scored on a sacrifice fly to right by Hafner for a 3-1 lead.

"I've been working on (stealing bases)," said Sizemore, who has yet to be caught in 14 attempts. "I am learning in what type of situations are best to go on."

The Indians broke it open on Nixon's two-out, two-run single to left-center in the fifth. Once again it was Sizemore who was the catalyst.

Sizemore hit a one-out single right and, after Blake flied out, he stole his American League-leading 14th base of the season. Hafner and Victor Martinez followed with walks and Nixon slapped a 0-1 sinker to left field for a 5-1 lead.

"I wasn't sure it would drop," Nixon said. "I know Torii (Hunter) is running around out there and might dive at the last minute and make the catch."

Ryan Garko extended his hitting streak to six games with a single in the second for Cleveland, which is 8-2 against American League Central Division foes this season.

Both teams were warned when Sabathia drilled Justin Morneau in the right shoulder in the fourth inning.

After winning his past two road games, Silva (2-4) took the loss, allowing five runs and seven hits in six innings. Silva has been hurt by lack of run support, with the Twins scoring just one run in his four losses.

"There's nothing I can do about it," Silva said about the lack of run support. "I got to go out and pitch. They're (the hitters) aren't going to pitch for me."