Sizemore helps Tribe top Detroit

“I do more running in the clubhouse than I do on the field.”

Grady Sizemore

Indians center fielder

He hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs in the 9-5 victory.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Grady Sizemore doesn’t mind filling in as Cleveland’s designated hitter every now and then. He just can’t figure out what to do when he’s not at the plate.

“I do more running in the clubhouse than I do on the field,” he said.

Sizemore got to trot around the bases after hitting a three-run homer off Justin Verlander and drove in four runs, helping Fausto Carmona win for the first time since May 12 as the Indians beat the Detroit Tigers 9-4 on Thursday.

After playing all 13 innings in Cleveland’s 14-12 loss on Wednesday, Sizemore, the Indians’ All-Star center fielder and leadoff hitter, served as the club’s DH for the fourth time this season. The lightened workload was welcomed by Sizemore, who estimated getting only four hours sleep following the extra-inning marathon.

“I’m getting used to it,” Sizemore said of the DH role.

Carmona (5-3) looked like the pitcher who won 19 games last season while making his second start after spending two months on the disabled list with a hip injury. He bounced back with a strong outing after being rocked for nine runs in just 2 1/3 innings when he rejoined the rotation last week.

Using his filthy sinker, Carmona was charged with two runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings. The right-hander hadn’t won since shutting out Toronto nearly three months ago, and Carmona got a big assist from reliever Rafael Perez, who got an inning-ending double play in the seventh and struck out the side in the eighth.

“I was more aggressive in the strike zone,” Carmona said. “I was more relaxed. I had a different feeling on the mound.”

Sizemore hit his 27th homer in the fifth off Verlander (8-11) and Sal Fasano drove in two runs as the Indians split the four-game series with the Tigers, who dropped six games behind the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox.

Cleveland won despite making three errors after four miscues cost them in Wednesday’s loss.

“The last two games have been really bad,” manager Eric Wedge said. “There is no excuse for the way we’ve played.”

Verlander, one of baseball’s hottest pitchers in July, fell to 1-6 with a 9.00 ERA in seven career starts in Cleveland. However, he was able to rest Detroit’s overworked bullpen. The Tigers used six relievers on Wednesday and placed reliever Todd Jones on the 15-day disabled list before the game.