Masterson improves to 5-0 in Tribe win

Photo by: Amy Sancetta

AP

Photo

Kansas City Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar leaps over Cleveland Indians baserunner Shin-Soo Choo after forcing him out at second and then throwing to first on a ground ball by Indians' batter Carlos Santana in the fifth inning of a baseball game in Cleveland on Tuesday, April 26, 2011. Santana was safe at first on the play.

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Coined by actor-turned-bad-boy Charlie Sheen, the catchphrase on the front of Justin Masterson’s black T-shirt said it all.

“Duh, Winning.”

That’s how the Cleveland Indians are rolling these days.

“It’s early, but I like where we’re at and I like what we’re doing,” Masterson said.

He won his fifth straight start, a stunning personal turnaround from last season, Jack Hannahan homered twice and Shin-Soo Choo hit a three-run shot, leading the first-place Indians to a 9-4 win over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night.

At 14-8, the Indians are off to their best start since 2007, when they won 96.

Masterson (5-0) allowed three runs and five hits in 62/3 innings. A year ago, the right-hander started 0-5, lost 11 straight games over two seasons and went winless over a stretch of 17 starts — a club record of futility.

The Indians hit five homers, got saved by rookie reliever Vinnie Pestano and won their eighth straight at home — not bad for a team picked by most to finish at the bottom of their division.

Hannahan hit solo shots in the third and fifth off Luke Hochevar (2-3), and Choo connected in the seventh on reliever Louis Coleman’s first pitch to make it 7-3.

Grady Sizemore went 3 for 4 and hit a two-run homer in the eighth for the Indians.

Melky Cabrera homered and Alex Gordon extended his hitting streak to 19 games for the Royals.

Masterson’s reversal has been one of the keys to the Indians’ quick start. He finished strong in 2010, and has carried it over into this season. Of his five wins, four have come following a Cleveland loss and he’s gone at least six innings in each start.

He was pulled in the seventh with the Indians up only 4-3 and the tying run at second.

Reliever Tony Sipp came on and struck out Chris Getz, but the left-hander loaded the bases with none out in the eighth. Manager Manny Acta brought in Pestano, who worked out of the mess by getting two popups and a strikeout.

“He saved the day,” Acta said.

Choo’s third homer gave the Indians some breathing room in the seventh. Hannahan and Asdrubal Cabrera singled before Choo, who came in batting just .207, blasted Coleman’s first offering into the bullpen in center.