Garko comes through for Tribe again



The big first baseman hit a single to key a four-run rally in the 12th inning of Cleveland's 7-3 win over the Twins.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Ryan Garko drove in the go-ahead run for the second straight game, blooping a soft single that sent the Cleveland Indians to a 7-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Monday night.
Travis Hafner, who matched his career high with four hits, started the 12th with a walk against Jesse Crain (0-1). Jason Michaels followed Garko's hit with an RBI double, and Shin-Soo Choo added a two-run single off Joe Nathan with the bases loaded to break it open. It took the Twins seven batters to get an out in the inning.
Roberto Hernandez (2-1) picked up the victory with three scoreless innings, highlighting an excellent night by the Cleveland bullpen.
Victor Martinez's three-run homer in the fifth gave the Indians a 3-0 lead against Carlos Silva, who finished that inning and gave up seven hits and two walks while striking out six.
Torii Hunter's homer and Alexi Casilla's two-out, two-run double off Jeremy Sowers tied it at 3 in the seventh.
Big hits missing
Excluding Martinez's big hit, the Indians again struggled to drive in runs until the 12th.
Martinez left three men on base in his first two at-bats, both inning-ending outs, and bounced into a double play after Hafner's single in the seventh. Garko struck out with the bases loaded against Pat Neshek to end the ninth after connecting on a 1-1 pitch that hooked foul by a few feet to the left of the pole.
Garko's three-run homer Sunday gave the Indians a ninth-inning lead in a 6-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
The native of nearby North Dakota who always hits well in Minnesota, Hafner kept up his torrid pace. He has reached base in 23 of his last 33 plate appearances and has 16 hits in his last seven games.
Silva's night started auspiciously when he struck out the first batter, Grady Sizemore. The Indians outfielder entered with 17 hits in 32 previous at-bats against Silva, including seven for extra bases, and went 0-for-2 with a walk against the right-hander.
One of Minnesota's biggest concerns just three weeks ago because of a miserable 2006 season and a rough series of appearances in spring training, Silva has helped solidify the rotation with a strong April.
He was on his way to another quality start until Casey Blake poked a single up the middle with two outs in the fifth, the first of five straight hits. After Hafner's single, Martinez made Silva pay for his only mistake by crushing a 1-2 pitch an estimated 440 feet into the upper deck above right field.
Silva hung his head and stormed around the mound in disgust. He was so mad that, when plate umpire Lance Barksdale tossed him a new ball, he swatted at it and missed the catch.
In four appearances, Silva -- who led the majors with 38 home runs allowed last season -- has given up two homers and seven earned runs in 23 innings for a 2.74 ERA this month.
Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.