MLB: Cleveland 8, New York Mets 1

CLEVELAND, Sept. 6 (UPI) -- Scott Kazmir struck out 12 during six shutout innings Friday, lifting Cleveland to its third straight win with an 8-1 decision over the New York Mets.

Nick Swisher broke things open with a grand slam home run in the eighth, and Carlos Santana drove in two runs with a sacrifice fly in the first and a single in the fifth.

Kazmir (8-7) allowed four hits and did not walk a batter while throwing 97 pitches. He had gone 0-3 in his four previous starts, having last won on Aug. 4 against Miami.

Cleveland took a 4-1 lead into the eighth before a double and two walks loaded the bases for Swisher. He fouled off two pitches before sending a 1-2 offering from Tim Byrdak over the wall in left.

The loss was charged to Zack Wheeler (7-4), who gave up three runs on five hits in five innings.