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Sizemore, Indians open interleague series vs. Padres

Jun 13, 2008 - 3:06 PM San Diego (30-38) at Cleveland (31-36), 7:05 pm EDT

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Grady Sizemore and the injury-plagued Cleveland Indians hope for another offensive outburst Friday when they host the red-hot San Diego Padres in the opener of a three-game interleague series.

Sizemore homered Thursday as the Indians routed the Minnesota Twins, 12-2, to record their third victory in the last four games.

The rout occurred just hours after the Indians lost star catcher Victor Martinez, who was placed on the DL and will be sidelined up to eight weeks with an elbow injury.

The long-term loss of Martinez was the latest blow to the struggling Indians, who already were without designated hitter Travis Hafner (shoulder), ace righthander Fausto Carmona (hip), veteran starter Jake Westbrook (elbow) and second baseman Josh Barfield (finger).

But Cleveland delivered an explosive performance Thursday, pounding out a season-high 18 hits. Sizemore had two hits to extend his hitting streak to nine games.

The Indians send lefthander Jeremy Sowers (0-1, 6.91 ERA) to the mound Friday against the Padres. It will be the fourth start this season for Sowers, who allowed five runs in just four innings of Sunday's 5-2 loss to Detroit.

The Padres counter with rookie Josh Banks (2-0, 0.39), who has allowed only one earned run in 23 innings this season. The righthander worked six innings in his last start on June 5 but did not factor in the decision of a 2-1 victory over the New York Mets.

San Diego has won seven of its last eight games, including Thursday's 9-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.