Indians excellent against D’Rays

AL Central-leading Cleveland extended its advantage over Detroit to 11⁄2 games.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Jake Westbrook gave up one run over seven innings, Asdrubal Cabrera hit his first major league homer and the Cleveland Indians beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 8-1 Saturday night.

Grady Sizemore also went deep for the AL Central-leading Indians, who extended their advantage over the Tigers to 11⁄2 games.

Detroit lost 5-2 against the New York Yankees. Cleveland has won three in a row following a four-game losing streak.

About Westbrook

Westbrook (4-7) allowed just two hits, including an RBI double by Carlos Pena with two outs in the seventh. The right-hander, who spent time earlier this season on the disabled list with a left abdominal strain, has won three of his last four starts.

Cabrera’s three-run drive off Jason Hammel (1-3) put the Indians ahead 3-0 in the second. Called up from Triple-A Buffalo on Aug. 7, the rookie got his first career RBI on a sacrifice fly in Cleveland’s 2-1 win over Tampa Bay on Friday.

Hammel gave up four runs and eight hits in five innings. He is winless in 15 major league starts, including six this season.

The Devil Rays have the majors’ worst record at 46-76 and have lost 36 of 49 since June 25.

Sizemore made it 4-0 in the fifth with his 21st homer of the season. He has a hit in 22 of his last 24 games.

Kenny Lofton singled in a run in the sixth and Ryan Garko hit an RBI double in the seventh to extend the Indians’ lead to 6-0. Garko has two RBIs in his past 14 games.

Casey Blake’s two-run single in the eighth put Cleveland up 8-1.

Carl Crawford singled with one out in the fourth for Tampa Bay’s first hit but B.J. Upton grounded into a double play.

Tampa Bay shortstop Ben Zobrist left in the third inning with a right oblique strain and will be re-evaluated today. He hurt himself during a swing.

Notes

Umpire Jerry Crawford missed the game with a back injury. Mike Estabrook replaced Crawford. ... Cleveland DH Travis Hafner (knee and hamstring) and RF Trot Nixon (flu-like symptoms) were both back in the starting lineup. ... Devil Rays minor league LHP James Houser was suspended 50 games after testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance. ... Indians LHP C.C. Sabathia, today’s scheduled starter, is 7-1 with a 2.47 ERA in 10 career games against the Devil Rays. ... Crawford has a hit in 17 of his past 18 games.