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Sizemore and Boone lead Indians past Rangers

Sep 24, 2006 - 10:22 PM ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- Grady Sizemore homered twice for the first time in his career and drove in four runs, and Aaron Boone also had four RBI as the Cleveland Indians posted an 11-6 victory over the Texas Rangers.

Sizemore's two-run blast in the fifth inning put Cleveland ahead, 6-2, and his 27th homer capped a five-run sixth for an 11-5 edge.

The sixth-inning homer was the first inside-the-park job of Sizemore's career. His fly ball down the left field line eluded a sliding Carlos Lee and rolled to the corner, scoring Boone and allowing Sizemore to round the bases.

"With doubles or triples or, in this case, a home run, it's the first few steps out of the batter's box that tell the story," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "With the way the ball bounced and with Grady's speed, he was able to make it all the way."

With his two home runs, Sizemore leads all American League leadoff hitters in homers.

"It was my first inside-the-park home run and it was kind of exciting," Sizemore said. "When I hit it, I saw it would be a close play on the line and when it got past him, I knew I had a shot at three. As I rounded second, I saw the go sign was being given."

Boone drove in two runs with a double in the third and two more with a single in the sixth.

I've faced (Rangers starter) Kevin Millwood in three games and I don't like facing him," Boone said. "He's dominated me this year. But the first hit just found a hole when I was trying to take it up the middle.

"Having the bases loaded the next time is an opportunity you hate to see go by the wayside and I was again able to get a liner up the middle."

That was enough support for Indians starter Jake Westbrook (14-10), who allowed five runs and nine hits in five innings. The righthander needs one more victory to match his career high of 15 set last year.

"I just never really got in a groove today and I wasn't able to make the pitches when I needed to," Westbrook said. "I was getting behind and wasn't in control of my fastball like I have been recently. It was nice to leave with a lead today against a tough lineup like the Rangers."

Millwood (16-11) took the loss against one of his former teams, allowing six runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. He walked a season-high five as he suffered just his third loss in his last nine starts.

"It was not what I was looking for today," Millwood said. "I had a hard time putting the ball where I wanted to. The third and fourth innings were OK but they weren't enough."

Miguel Ojeda had two hits, including a two-run double in the fifth that helped Texas move within 6-5.