Carmona gets Indians on track

Fausto Carmona provided the boost the struggling Indians so badly needed. Ryan Garko and Travis Hafner made sure Cleveland couldn't blow it.

Carmona allowed a run in 6¿ innings, Garko and Hafner hit 2-run homers, and Jason Michaels drove in 3 runs to help the Indians beat the Detroit Tigers 11-1 on Thursday night in Cleveland.

"It was all about Fausto shutting them down and giving us a chance to get a lead," said Garko.

The Indians had lost six of seven, and their previous three. The bullpen squandered strong starts from Jake Westbrook and Paul Byrd against Boston, then ace C.C. Sabathia gave up 9 runs to Detroit the night before.

Manager Eric Wedge, frustrated with his team's play, held a meeting with the players before the game. For one night at least, the meeting paid off.

"Our approach at the plate was better," Wedge said. "We had good at-bats. Individually, they should feed off that."

Carmona (2-1), who walked eight in 3½ innings in his last start against Oakland, gave up 7 hits, struck out two and walked one.

"When you run into guys like that, you need to have good pitching, and we didn't have that," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said.

Carmona said he made an adjustment that paid off.

"I learn something from every start, whether it's good or bad," said Carmona, through interpreter Luis Rivera, the team's first-base coach. "I had to make adjustments from my last start. My arm was getting out in front of my body and I worked hard in the bullpen to adjust."

Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander remained winless in 4 starts, falling to 0-3. He allowed 5 runs and 7 hits in 5 innings, with 4 walks and 1 strikeout. The loss snapped the Tigers' season-high three-game winning streak.

"I've been throwing the ball decent, but things haven't been going my way," he said. "Tonight was the first night I felt I didn't throw the ball well."

Verlander has struggled in Cleveland's ballpark, which was renamed from Jacobs Field to Progressive Field in the off-season. He's 1-5 with an 8.91 ERA in 7 starts.

"He's got great stuff," said Garko, whose fifth-inning homer came off Verlander. "It seems like we face him four or five times a year. He's really a good pitcher."

Hafner and Jamey Carroll also had two RBIs apiece. Every Cleveland starter had at least 1 hit.

Red Sox 7, Yankees 5: Manny Ramirez hit 2 more homers off an ineffective Mike Mussina, leading Josh Beckett and Boston past host New York in a game that nearly got testy. With Ramirez enjoying his latest outburst against his favorite foe, Yankees reliever Kyle Farnsworth threw a 97-mph fastball behind the slugger's neck on the first pitch of the seventh inning, drawing cheers from the sellout crowd of 55,088. Plate umpire Larry Vanover immediately warned both dugouts, and Ramirez eventually grounded out to second.

Rangers 4, Blue Jays 1: Vicente Padilla (2-1) pitched 7 strong innings, Ian Kinsler had 3 hits, and Texas handed Toronto its fifth straight home defeat. Rangers outfielder David Murphy went 3-for-4 with 3 doubles.

Rays 7, Twins 3: Jason Hammel (1-1) had his second straight strong outing, Nathan Haynes' single keyed a 4-run rally, and Tampa Bay beat host Minnesota to split the two-game series.

National League

Phillies 10, Astros 2: Brett Myers (2-1) allowed 1 run and 5 hits in 7 innings, and Chris Coste tied a career high with 4 hits as host Philadelphia beat Houston.

Brewers 5, Cardinals 3: Prince Fielder hit his first home run of the season, a 2-run drive off Brad Thompson (1-1) in the 10th inning to send Milwaukee past host St. Louis.

Braves 8, Marlins 0: John Smoltz pitched 5 shutout innings and struck out 10, and Chipper Jones went 4-for-4 with 2 homers and 3 RBI to help Atlanta beat host Florida.

Mets 3, Nationals 2 (14): Damion Easley scored on Joel Hanrahan's second wild pitch in the 14th inning, and New York beat Washington on the 44th anniversary of the first game at Shea Stadium.