Indians go solo, top Royals

Friday, August 25, 2006 Victor Martinez and Ryan Garko homered in the ninth inning of the 8-4 win. KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Rookie Andy Marte had a career-high three RBIs, and Victor Martinez and Ryan Garko hit ninth-inning solo homers to lead the Cleveland Indians over the Kansas City Royals 8-4 Thursday night. Marte's RBI double in the eighth drove in Jhonny Peralta for a 5-4 lead. It was the only hit off Jimmy Gobble (3-5) and the run was unearned because Peralta reached on shortstop Angel Berroa's throwing error. Marte was 3-for-4 and reached base four times. After Martinez and Garko homered on consecutive pitches by Ambiorix Burgos, Franklin Gutierrez added an RBI single. Strong pitching C.C. Sabathia (9-8) allowed four runs — three earned — and 11 hits in eight innings, striking out seven and walking two. After the Royals put two on with one out in the seventh, he struck out Mark Teahen and Emil Brown. Hector Luna, who had four RBIs in Wednesday's 15-13 comeback win, hit a run-scoring grounder in the second, but Mike Sweeney's RBI single tied it in the third. Luna hit an RBI single in the fourth and scored on Marte's two-run double — Cleveland's fifth straight hit — but Sweeney pulled the Royals to 4-3 with a two-run homer in the bottom half. Sweeney, who missed 88 games while on the disabled list with a bulging disk in his back, has homered in consecutive games after not hitting any since April 28. Ryan Shealy's RBI single tied the score in the sixth. Notes Royals 1B Doug Mientkiewicz is to have season-ending back surgery Aug. 29. Dr. Robert Watkins will operate in Los Angeles. Mientkiewicz has been on the DL since July 26. ... Travis Hafner singled in the third to stretch his career-high hitting streak to 14 straight games. ... The Royals turned two double plays and lead the majors with 155. Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.