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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, April 19, 2009

Indians strike early to rout Yanks, 22-4

Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Asdrubal Cabrera had an RBI single and a grand slam during Cleveland's 14-run second inning against the New York Yankees.

JULIE JACOBSON | Associated Press

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NEW YORK — The jokes started flying as the Cleveland Indians piled up runs in the second inning yesterday. Ben Francisco was glad he wasn't in the field. Ryan Garko was hoping to avoid making another out.

It was one fun day for the Tribe at the New York Yankees' swanky new home.

Asdrubal Cabrera hit a grand slam and an RBI single in Cleveland's 14-run second and the Indians set the bar for Yankee Stadium's new record book, coasting to a 22-4 victory.

"It was just one of those games for the entire team," said Mark DeRosa, who went 4-for-7 and tied a career high with six RBIs. "Just a lot of guys getting good swings."

DeRosa and Shin Soo-Choo hit three-run homers, Travis Hafner, Grady Sizemore and Victor Martinez had solo shots and manager Eric Wedge earned his 500th victory. Jhonny Peralta had three hits and two RBIs after missing Friday's 6-5 loss with a strained left elbow.

The Indians chased struggling starter Chien-Ming Wang and set several marks that could stand for a while at New York's $1.5 billion ballpark. The 14 runs were the most scored in the second inning of a major league game, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The 13 hits in the inning were a franchise record for a Yankees opponent.

"We did a good job of not missing pitches and we squared a lot of balls up today," Wedge said.

Mark Teixeira and Melky Cabrera each hit a two-run homer for the Yankees, who were embarrassed in two of their first three regular-season games at their new field.

"I haven't seen this many big innings in a long while," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "We expected pitching to be a strength and sometimes it has been. But at other times not."

It was the most runs for the Indians since they beat New York, 22-0, on Aug. 31, 2004, at the old Yankee Stadium. The 22 runs also tied the Yankees' record for most allowed in a home game.

Choo delivered the first big blow in the second, hitting a three-run drive off Wang to give Cleveland a 3-2 lead. Cabrera singled in a run, DeRosa had a two-run double and Martinez had an RBI single before Wang (0-3) was replaced by Anthony Claggett, who was making his major league debut after being recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before the game.

Blue Jays 4, Athletics 2: Five relievers combined to work 6 2/3 scoreless innings, and following a two-out walk to Jose Bautista, Lyle Overbay hit a two-run homer off Dan Giese (0-1) in the bottom of the 12th inning to lift Toronto over Oakland.

White Sox 8, Rays 3: Paul Konerko had an RBI double in the first inning and hit a two-run homer in the fifth, Carlos Quentin also homered, and Mark Buehrle (2-0) gave up three runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings to help visiting Chicago beat Tampa Bay.

Twins 9, Angels 2: Jason Kubel had four hits, including a two-run double off Kevin Jepsen (0-2) in a five-run fifth, and Kevin Slowey (2-0) spaced six hits — including a two-run homer by Torii Hunter in the second — over seven innings to lead host Minnesota over Los Angeles.

Red Sox 6, Orioles 4: Kevin Youkilis went 4-for-5 with a three-run homer, falling a triple short of the cycle, and drove in four runs, and Josh Beckett (2-0) gave up four runs on six hits in six innings as host Boston won its third straight while handing Baltimore its third loss in a row.

Royals 2, Rangers 0: Zack Greinke (3-0) did not allow a run for his third straight start this season, pitching a seven-hitter for his first career shutout, Billy Butler had a two-out RBI double and Miguel Olivo hit a solo homer to lead visiting Kansas City over Texas.

Tigers 2, Mariners 0: Edwin Jackson (1-0) allowed five hits while working into the eighth inning, and Brandon Inge had an RBI single to right with Gerald Laird scoring on an throwing error by Ichiro Suzuki in a two-run sixth as visiting Detroit beat Seattle.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

METS 1, BREWERS 0: Two-time Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana (2-1) allowed five hits and struck out seven without issuing a walk over seven innings as host New York beat Milwaukee when reliever Carlos Villanueva (1-2) gave up an RBI fielder's choice to Jose Reyes in the seventh.

Padres 8, Phillies 5: Brad Lidge (0-1), trying to protect a one-run lead, blew his first save in 54 opportunities, allowing four runs, including a three-run homer to Kevin Kouzmanoff in the top of the ninth, as San Diego rallied past Philadelphia.

Marlins 9, Nationals 6: Jeremy Hermida hit a three-run homer in the top of the 11th after tying it with a two-out, two-run shot in the ninth off Wil Ledezma as Florida beat Washington for its sixth straight victory.

Pirates 10, Braves 0: Craig Monroe hit a pair of three-run homers and Ian Snell (1-2) allowed four hits in seven-plus innings, getting help from three double plays, as host Pittsburgh posted its second consecutive shutout of Atlanta.

Dodgers 9, Rockies 5: Manny Ramirez hit his first two home runs of the season — and dropped a flyball for his first error — and Andre Ethier also homered twice in support of Chad Billingsley (3-0) as host Los Angeles beat Colorado for its seventh straight victory.

Cubs 7, Cardinals 5: Aramis Ramirez, hitless in his first five at-bats, slugged a two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the 11th inning as Chicago gained a tie for first place in the Central Division with St. Louis, which has lost two straight after winning the opener of a four-game series.

Astros 7, Reds 0: Wandy Rodriguez (1-1) allowed only two hits and struck out 10 in seven innings, Chris Sampson and Jeff Fulchino each pitched a hitless inning to complete the two-hitter, and Geoff Blum drove in three runs to lead host Houston past Cincinnati.

Diamondbacks 2, Giants 0: Chris Young hit a two-run double in the top of the ninth, Doug Davis (1-2) scattered eight hits over eight innings, and Chad Qualls struck out the side in the bottom of the inning as Arizona beat San Francisco. Giants starter Tim Lincecum allowed five hits and struck out 13 in eight innings.