Indians complete sweep of Tigers

Ryan Garko and Casey Blake each homered for Cleveland in the 5-3 victory.

DETROIT (AP) — Ryan Garko hit a three-run homer in the first inning and Casey Blake had a solo shot in the fifth to lift the Cleveland Indians to a 5-3 win and a three-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers Sunday night.

The Indians came to Detroit trailing by a half-game in the AL Central and they left in first place by a season-high 21⁄2-games.

Cleveland (31-17) has its best record after 48 games since reaching the same mark at this point in 2001, the last time it won the division and played in the postseason.

The Tigers were swept for the first time this season and have lost four of six.

Garko’s home run gave the Indians a 4-0 lead and Blake’s homer put them ahead 5-3.

Carmona wins

Fausto Carmona (6-1) gave up three runs and nine hits over seven innings. He hasn’t lost since dropping his first start this season.

Rafael Betancourt pitched the eighth and Joe Borowski closed out the ninth for his AL-high 17th save in 19 chances, earning the save in all three wins over Detroit.

Mike Maroth (3-2) allowed five runs and six hits in eight innings, losing consecutive starts after going 3-0 in his first seven. He matched a season high with five walks.

The Indians went ahead 4-0 in the first when Garko’s three-run home run followed Victor Martinez’s sacrifice fly.

Craig Monroe, Gary Sheffield and Magglio Ordonez hit three straight RBI singles in the third to pull Detroit within a run, then Carmona pitched out of one of his jams. With two on and one out, Carmona got Carlos Guillen to line out and Ivan Rodriguez to strike out.

The Tigers had two on and no outs in the sixth and Carmona didn’t let them have anything to show for it, getting a double play and a line out.

Brandon Inge led off the seventh against Carmona with a double, ending an 0-for-16 streak, and Sheffield hit a two-out single, but both were stranded after the hot-hitting Ordonez grounded out.

Notes

Tigers 2B Placido Polanco (strained oblique) was out of the lineup, but is expected to play Monday night at Tampa Bay. ... Indians RHP Jake Westbrook (abdominal strain) threw in the bullpen before the game and is scheduled to pitch a simulated game Tuesday in Boston. ... Detroit RHP Jason Grilli (bruised left leg) had the day off a day after being hit by a comebacker. ... Cleveland hosts the Tigers for a four-game series, starting Thursday night. ... The Tigers’ other three-game losing streak came against Kansas City and the White Sox from April 18-21. ... Garko has seven homers in 39 games this season after hitting seven in 50 games with the Indians last year. ... Every game in the series drew a sellout crowd at Comerica Park. ... Carmona had lost 11 straight decisions until winning on April 24.