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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
BALTIMORE (AP) – Marty Cordova is making a solid case to get
more playing time on the talent-laden Cleveland Indians.
|  | | Marty Cordova rounds the bases after hitting one of his two homers. |
Cordova homered twice and drove in four runs Thursday as the
Indians completed their first three-game sweep in Baltimore since
1988 with an 11-5 victory.
It was the fifth career two-homer game for Cordova, who gave
Cleveland a 3-2 lead with a solo drive in the fourth inning and
then added a three-run shot in the fifth.
"One home run is nice. Two is nicer," he said. "It makes the
flight home a lot easier."
It's been a long time since the Indians left Baltimore during
the regular season feeling this good about themselves. Cleveland
outscored the Orioles 23-7 in its first three-game sweep in
Baltimore since the Orioles' season-opening 0-21 start 13 years
ago.
Cordova has played in only six of the Indians' 13 games, but
he's made the most of the opportunity. The outfielder-designated
hitter is 7-for-15 with three homers and eight RBI.
"When I get my chance to play, I try to do what I can," he
said. "There's a lot of good players on this team and hard to fit
everybody in."
Cordova went 2-for-4 with two RBI on Wednesday, then topped
that with a performance that should earn him more starting
assignments from manager Charlie Manuel.
"Cordova's not getting a lot of playing time, but he's taking a
lot of extra hitting," Manuel said. "That's a good indication of
the type of player he is."
Einar Diaz also homered and C.C. Sabathia (2-0) allowed two runs
in six innings for the Indians, who have their first three-game
winning streak of the season. Cleveland took two of three from the
Orioles last week and won the season series 5-1.
Sabathia, 20, gave up six hits in his third major league start.
He struck out three and walked two.
"It's a learning experience," the left-hander said. "Every
time I go out there, something new happens. ... I really struggled
to throw strikes. The first two times, I never really struggled
throwing strikes."
Brady Anderson had three hits for the Orioles, who have lost
eight of 11. Half of Baltimore's 10 defeats this season have been
to the Indians.
"They keep coming at you," Baltimore manager Mike Hargrove
said. "They're obviously one of the favorites in the AL to be
contenders, for good reason. They've got good pitching and good
hitting."
After a listless performance in a 4-1 loss Wednesday, the
Orioles' offense showed signs of life in the series finale.
"We got our butts kicked last night and today, but today left a
better taste," Hargrove said. "We did some real positive things
today. We swung the bats well."
Cleveland went up 6-2 with a three-run fifth. After Juan
Gonzalez and Wil Cordero singled off Chuck McElroy (0-1), Cordova
hit the second pitch from Chad Paronto over the center-field wall
for his third homer of the season.
The Indians made it 9-2 in the sixth on an RBI double by Ellis
Burks and a two-run double by Cordero. Diaz hit a two-run homer off
Ryan Kohlmeier in the ninth, and Baltimore scored three runs in the
bottom half off Paul Shuey.
Game notes
Kenny Lofton stole three bases and Gonzalez went 3-for-4
with a walk for Cleveland. ... Cal Ripken returned after a day off
and went 1-for-3 with a walk to raise his batting average to .140.
... Baltimore's David Segui was ejected by home plate umpire Ron
Kulpa after arguing a called third strike in the first inning.
Segui expressed his displeasure by tossing a helmet and bat from
the dugout. ... Jim Thome (.133) and Omar Vizquel (.208) were left
out of Cleveland's starting lineup. ... Jeff Conine returned to the
Baltimore lineup after missing seven games with a foot injury. ...
Baltimore C Brook Fordyce had two passed balls and allowed four
stolen bases.
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RECAPS
Cleveland 11
Baltimore 5
Chi. White Sox 3
Detroit 1
NY Yankees 6
Toronto 5
Boston 8
Tampa Bay 3
Oakland 9
Texas 5
Seattle 3
Anaheim 2
Colorado 4
San Diego 0
Florida 5
Montreal 2
Los Angeles 10
San Francisco 1
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