Cleveland, OH (Best E Casino) - Ben Francisco hit a three-run homer and Grady Sizemore added a solo shot, as the Cleveland Indians defeated the San Diego Padres, 7-3, in the rubber match of a three-game interleague series at Progressive Field.

Jhonny Peralta and Franklin Gutierrez each chipped in with two hits, including a double and an RBI apiece for the Indians, who have won five of their last seven games. Jamey Carroll added a pair of hits and two runs scored in the victory.

C.C. Sabathia (5-8) earned the win, tossing eight solid innings. The American League's reigning Cy Young Award winner gave up three runs on six hits, while striking out 10 and walking one. He improves to 2-0 lifetime against San Diego.

Khalil Greene had a pair of hits and an RBI, and Justin Huber had a run- scoring double for San Diego, which suffered only its third loss in the last 11 games.

Greg Maddux (3-5) surrendered five runs -- two earned -- on eight hits over six innings and struck out a pair without walking a batter.

Jody Gerut lined the first pitch of the game into the right-center field gap for a two-base hit and stole third, but Sabathia settled down to strike out the side to keep the game scoreless.

Cleveland threatened in the home half of the first as it had runners on the corners and one out, but Ryan Garko flied out to shallow right field and Francisco, who was on first, lost sight of the ball and was easily doubled for the third out.

The Indians managed to put three on the board in the third. Maddux committed a rare error when he threw wide of first on a ball hit by Gutierrez and after retiring the next two batters, hit Carroll with a pitch. Francisco then followed by belting a hanging changeup over the left field wall, giving the Tribe a 3-0 edge.

Huber's run-scoring double with one out in the top of the fourth, plated Kevin Kouzmanoff, who led off the inning with a base hit and Greene's infield single scored another, making it a 3-2 game. With runners on first and third and one out, Michael Barrett's sacrifice fly to left tied the contest.

Cleveland reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fourth when Casey Blake's slow roller to the pitcher brought home Shin-Soo Choo, who got things started with a leadoff double.

Gutierrez's line-drive single to center in the sixth, put the Indians ahead by a 5-3 margin.

Sizemore gave Cleveland a three-run lead after belting a Heath Bell 2-2 fastball over the right field wall to lead off the seventh. Carroll then followed with a single and scored three batters later on Peralta's double to center, to make it 7-3.

Masahide Kobayashi came on for the ninth and issued a one-out walk to Tony Clark, but retired the next two batters to preserve the win.

Game Notes

San Diego begins a three-game series at the New York Yankees on Tuesday night, while Cleveland starts a six-game road trip when it faces Colorado in the first of a three-game set...Cleveland is 6-3 lifetime against the Padres and took two of three tests from San Diego at Progressive Field during the 2003 season...The Indians are 2-4 in interleague play this season...San Diego is 82-100 all-time in interleague play, while Cleveland improved to 103-95 since 1997...Right fielder Paul McAnulty left the game with an apparent back injury after he misjudged a ball hit by Carroll in the first inning.