Indians All-Star 0-3 in last three starts

CLEVELAND (AP) -- C.C. Sabathia suddenly has lost the form that made him a first-time All-Star last week.

The big left-hander lost to the Detroit Tigers for just the second time in his career, getting knocked around for nine hits in Cleveland's 7-4 loss Thursday night.

"I didn't throw strikes all night. It was just a matter of time until they started hitting them," Sabathia said. "I just couldn't throw my fastball over the plate."

Craig Monroe homered and Ben Petrick and Dmitri Young had a pair of RBI apiece as the Tigers ended a six-game losing streak.

"It's huge," Tigers manager Alan Trammell said. "The wins have been few and far between."

Sabathia (8-6) retired the first seven batters but lost his command after the Tigers scored an unearned run on third baseman Casey Blake's error in the third inning.

"It looked like maybe he lost his rhythm," Trammell said.

The Tigers broke away by scoring four runs with two outs in the fifth. Petrick and Young drove in a run apiece, then Monroe hit a two-run shot, his 10th, for a 5-1 lead.

Sabathia went 6 1/3 innings, allowing six runs, five earned. He is 0-3 in his last three starts with a 6.05 ERA after winning eight of nine decisions.

"He's our No. 1 guy -- in good outings and tough outings," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "Nobody is more disappointed than he is."

Sabathia was 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA against the Tigers this season entering Thursday night's game and 6-1 with a 3.50 ERA in nine career starts.

Trammell said the four-run fifth was the key.

"It's just nice to be able to talk about capitalizing on a couple of pitches because we don't do it very often," he said.

The win snapped Detroit's six-game losing streak against Cleveland.

Nate Cornejo (5-8) scattered nine hits over 6 2/3 innings, giving up three runs. He had a season-high four strikeouts and walked none.

He's 2-1 with a 2.57 ERA in his last three starts after losing five straight.

"He was good enough," Trammell said. "He's kind of rebounded and given us good performances."

Cornejo, who lost his last start after taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning against the White Sox, said it was nice to get run support.

"It was good to see the guys battle like that," he said.

Chris Mears pitched the final 1 2/3 innings for his fifth save.

Jody Gerut pulled Cleveland within 6-4 with a two-run homer, his 12th, in the seventh off reliever Danny Patterson.

Milton Bradley had an RBI single to score Blake in the first. Blake added an RBI double in the seventh.

Game notes
Indians OF Coco Crisp went 1-for-5 after batting .480 (12-for-25) in his previous six games. ... The Tigers are now 3-9 against Cleveland this season. ... Monroe was hitting .163 (7-for-43) with one RBI in his previous 12 games. ... Detroit last beat Sabathia on July 27, 2002, at Jacobs Field. ... Rookie C Victor Martinez threw out two baserunners after coming into the game throwing out 2-of-9 baserunners. ... The Tigers have lost nine straight twice this year. ... A female fan sitting behind the first-base dugout was hit by a foul ball off Blake's bat in the ninth inning. She had a bag of ice on her face as she walked out with a policeman. She was transported to Cleveland MetroHealth Medical Center. Blake expressed concern after the game and asked Indians officials to check on her condition.