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Indians prove too good for Detroit

Home plate umpire Jerry Layn, left, e argues with Milwaukee Brewers manager Ned Yost after ejecting Yost in the seventh inning of the game against the San Diego Padres in San Diego, California, on Friday. PHOTO: AP

Casey Blake and Victor Martinez hit first-inning homers and Cleveland beat Detroit 7-4 on Friday night.

The game was the first of seven between the American League Central's top teams in the next 10 days. The Indians' victory gave them a half-game lead over Detroit.

Paul Byrd (5-1) allowed four runs and nine hits in 6 1-3 innings to improve to 4-0 in his last six starts.

Rafael Betancourt came in for Byrd and allowed one hit in 1 2-3 scoreless innings and Joe Borowski pitched the ninth for his 15th save.

Blake hit a drive to left off Nate Robertson with one out in the first for his fifth homer in 26 career at-bats against the left-hander. It was Blake's sixth of the season.

Robertson (4-4) struck out Travis Hafner before Martinez homered into the tunnel beyond the right-field fence to make it 2-0.

Robertson went 5 2-3 innings, giving up five runs, 10 hits and three walks

Athletics 3, Orioles 2

At Baltimore, Oakland's Dan Haren pitched seven innings of two-hit ball for his fifth straight victory.

Nick Swisher hit a two-run homer for the Athletics, who have won 14 of their last 16 games at Camden Yards.

Haren (5-2) gave up a first-inning run, then allowed only two baserunners over the next six innings. He lowered his ERA to 1.70.

Alan Embree struck out Jay Gibbons with runners on the corners and two outs to earn his second save.

Erik Bedard (3-3) yielded six hits and three runs -- two earned -- in seven innings. Bedard struck out eight to take over the AL lead with 83. But Baltimore lost for the ninth time in 12 games to fall a season-high six games under .500 (21-27).

After losing his first two starts this season, Haren has gone unbeaten in nine straight starts.

In other American League action on Friday it was:

* Angels 10, Yankees 6

* Twins 4, Blue Jays 3

* Mariners 10, Royals 2

* White Sox 5, Devil Rays 4

* Red Sox 10, Rangers 6

The Mets' Orlando Hernandez, making his first start since April 24, allowed two hits and walked none in six shutout innings. Florida starter Sergio Mitre was just as good until New York scored in the eighth when second baseman Dan Uggla bobbled a two-out broken-bat grounder.

With the score 1-all, Carlos Delgado walked to start the Mets' ninth against Renyel Pinto (0-2). Gomez pinch ran, stole second and took third on a bloop single by Paul Lo Duca.

Shortstop Hanley Ramirez fielded Shawn Green's grounder and went home, but the errant throw sailed and glanced off the glove of catcher Miguel Olivo, allowing Gomez to score.

Jose Reyes and Endy Chavez hit RBI singles off Justin Miller, and Beltran's double made it 6-1.

Aaron Heilman (5-2) gave up one run in the eighth and got the win.

Padres 8, Brewers 6

At San Diego, rookie Kevin Kouzmanoff's grand slam carried Greg Maddux and San Diego to the wild win over Milwaukee.

Kouzmanoff's slam, to left-center on the first pitch from Dave Bush, gave the Padres a 7-0 lead with two outs in the fifth.

Prince Fielder hit a solo homer in the Brewers' three-run sixth, and J.J. Hardy had a two-run shot in the three-run seventh. Fielder and Hardy are tied for the NL lead with 15 homers apiece.

The Brewers have lost three straight and nine of 12.

Third baseman Ryan Braun made his big league debut for the Brewers, and his first hit, a double to the left-center gap in the seventh inning, scored Tony Gwynn Jr, who was playing for the first time as a big leaguer in his hometown.

Maddux (4-3) has won four straight at home since losing the opener against Colorado on April 6.

In other National League action on Friday it was:

* Rockies 5, Giants 3

* Dodgers 9, Cubs 8

* Diamondbacks 13, Astros 3

* Phillies 8, Braves 3

* Nationals 5, Cardinals 4

* Pirates 10, Reds 4, 10 innings
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