CLEVELAND, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- Asdrubal Cabrera and Victor Martinez homered in a four-run first inning Wednesday and Cleveland held on to defeat Minnesota 4-3.
C.C. Sabathia won a duel of 14-game winners over Johan Santana as the Indians moved four games ahead of Detroit in the American League Central with their fifth straight victory.
Sabathia (15-7) gave up two runs on seven hits over six innings. Joe Borowski needed just seven pitches in the ninth inning to record his 39th save.
Minnesota lost its third straight to the Indians after having come into the series with a five-game winning streak. The loss put the third-place Twins 8 1/2 games behind Cleveland.
Santana (14-10) was roughed up in the first inning and eventually allowed four runs on 10 hits in six. Santana has four decisions against Cleveland this season, all losses.
Grady Sizemore singled to open the Cleveland first and Cabrera brought him in with a home run to left. Martinez delivered a solo blast, after which Franklin Gutierrez doubled and Kenny Lofton singled him home with what turned out to be the winning run.
