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| Garko leads balanced attack as Indians rout Rangers CLEVELAND 15, TEXAS 9 |
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ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- Ryan Garko went 4-for-5 and drove in a career-best six runs as the Cleveland Indians posted a 15-9 victory over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night. David Dellucci had three RBI and Victor Martinez plated two runs for the Indians, who pounded out 17 hits to improve to 3-3 on their 11-game road swing. It was Garko's most productive output at the plate since driving in five runs during a win over the Chicago White Sox on September 26, 2006. "He likes hitting in the middle of the lineup," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "For him to come through multiple times was key for us." Cleveland's Ben Francisco had a career-high five hits and scored on three of Garko's hits. "It's fun hitting behind guys who are hot," Garko said. "Every time I came up, (runners) were on base. When the guys around you are hitting, it makes your at-bats easier." The 27-year-old got things started in the second inning against Texas starter Sidney Ponson, who surrendered an RBI single to Garko which capped a four-run frame for Cleveland. With starter Cliff Lee unable to hold the 4-1 lead in the bottom of the third, Cleveland countered as Grady Sizemore hit his 12th homer of the season and Garko added another RBI single for a 6-5 lead. While Cleveland got to Ponson for six runs through the first four innings, it was reliever Elizardo Ramirez (0-1) that endured the most damage in this one. In the sixth, the Indians scored five times, highlighted by Dellucci's three-run blast - his seventh - to right against Ramirez. "We've been swinging the bats better lately," Wedge said. "We're doing a much better job with runners in scoring position. We've been making a lot more consistent contact in the past week or so." Cleveland continued to punish the 25-year-old Ramirez as Martinez, Garko and Casey Blake plated all four runs in the seventh to create a nine-run lead. "Our bullpen was down, we didn't have anybody," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "(Ramirez) got some pitches up and over the plate and they hit 'em." Lee (9-1) struggled for the second straight outing, allowing six runs and nine hits in five frames. The lefthander struck out eight and walked two in his second win over Texas this season. "You're definitely going to score some runs in this park, but I'm still trying to put up zeroes," said Lee, who saw his ERA jump from 1.88 to 2.45. "It's a tough place to pitch." Milton Bradley drove in three runs and Michael Young and Gerald Laird both added two apiece for the Rangers, who fell below .500 at 30-31 on the season. Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler pushed his hitting streak to 19 games with a leadoff triple in the first. |
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