Indians win 7th straight, off to best start since 2002

SEATTLE (AP) ― Asdrubal Cabrera has never been considered a power hitter. His career high for a season is six home runs

Barely a week into the 2011 campaign, Cabrera already has three homers and the surging Indians are the surprise leaders of the AL Central.

Cabrera welcomed Erik Bedard back to Safeco Field with a solo shot and the Indians beat the Seattle Mariners 6-4 on Sunday for their seventh straight victory.

Cleveland completed an impressive three-game sweep of the struggling Mariners and is off to a 7-2 start for the first time since beginning the 2002 season 8-1.

“We’re playing good baseball right now,” Indians manager Manny Acta said. “I know it’s early. We continue to get good pitching and play good defense and good things are going to happen.”

Cabrera, who had three hits, was only the beginning of Cleveland’s hit parade against Bedard, who was making his first home start for the Mariners since late July 2009. Bedard (0-2) gave up another homer to Jack Hannahan in the fourth, and doubles to Michael Brantley, Lou Marson and Orlando Cabrera. The left-hander lasted just four innings as Seattle dropped its seventh straight.

Asdrubal Cabrera missed a large chunk of last season with a broken forearm. During spring training, the infielder made some adjustments in his swing, no longer choking up early in the count, then shortening his swing when he gets two strikes.

Either way, he is hitting the ball hard. He homered Friday night on a 2-1 pitch before driving a 1-2 delivery from Bedard just over the hand-operated scoreboard in left two batters into Sunday’s game.

“Just try and hit the ball,” Asdrubal Cabrera said. “Swing a little harder.”

The early runs from the Indians’ offense were more than enough for starter Josh Tomlin, who extended his club record of pitching at least five innings in all 14 career starts since he was called up from the minors last July.

Tomlin allowed just a pair of singles into the seventh before giving up a two-run homer to Ryan Langerhans. Tomlin went 6 2/3 innings, giving up three hits and three runs, nearly matching his first start this season against Boston when he went seven innings, giving up three hits and one run.

Tomlin struck out four, but also walked three batters, helping lead to his high pitch count that eventually got him lifted in the seventh.

Angels 3, Blue Jays 1

Rangers 3, Orioles 0

Royals 9, Tigers 5

White Sox 6, Rays 1

Athletics 5, Twins 3

Phillies 3, Braves 0

Cardinals 6, Giants 1

D-backs 10, Reds 8

Brewers 6, Cubs 5

Rockies 6, Pirates 5

Astros 7, Marlins 1

Nationals 7, Mets 3

Padres 7, Dodgers 2

Red Sox 4, Yankees 0