Twins trim Tribe, 8-5, to end slump; Martinez injured

Victor Martinez left with what the team announced as an inflamed right elbow.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Justin Morneau drove in three runs and Jason Kubel hit a homer to help the Minnesota Twins defeat the Cleveland Indians 8-5, snapping a six-game losing streak Wednesday night.

Nick Blackburn (5-4) won for the first time since May 16, allowing two runs and seven hits over six innings as Minnesota moved two games ahead of third-place Cleveland in the AL Central.

Jesse Crain pitched 11‚Ñ3 innings and Joe Nathan worked the ninth for his 17th save in 18 chances after Grady Sizemore hit a three-run homer with two outs in the seventh to get Cleveland within 6-5.

Boof Bonser walked David Dellucci and yielded a single to Casey Blake to open the seventh. The right-hander got two quick outs and was replaced by left-hander Dennys Reyes. Sizemore, hitting .219 against lefties, lined a 2-2 pitch over the wall in right for his 13th homer.

Alexi Casilla extended his hitting streak to 13 games with an RBI single in the ninth to make it 7-5. He stole second and scored on a two-out double by Morneau.

Indians catcher Victor Martinez left after one inning. The Indians announced that he has an inflamed right elbow, the latest in a string of injuries to the defending division champions. Right-hander Jake Westbrook is scheduled for season-ending elbow surgery Thursday, right-hander Fausto Carmona has been sidelined since May 24 with a strained left hip and designated hitter Travis Hafner is on the disabled list with a sore right shoulder.

Kubel’s two-run homer capped a five-run third off Paul Byrd (3-6) that put Minnesota ahead, 6-1. Morneau’s two-run double broke a 1-1 tie. Michael Cuddyer doubled home Morneau and scored when Kubel hit a 3-1 pitch over the wall in center for his seventh homer.

The Twins had been outscored 44-17, hit .178 (8-for-45) with runners in scoring position, and compiled an 8.08 ERA during their six-game slide.

The Twins scored an unearned run on a sacrifice fly by Mike Lamb in the second.

Jamey Carroll’s RBI double tied it in the bottom half. Franklin Gutierrez tried to score from first on the play, but was thrown out to end the inning.

Kelly Shoppach replaced Martinez and hit his third homer in the sixth to make it 6-2.

Byrd gave up five earned runs and six hits over three innings — his shortest outing since going three April 9 in Los Angeles against the Angels.