In a showdown between two of the best lefties in baseball, Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia edged out Johan Santana of Minnesota for a 5-2 win, as the Indians took a half-game lead over the Tigers in the AL Central. Center fielder Grady Sizemore hit his 19th homer and drove in 4 RBIs. "As Grady goes, so we go," Sabathia said.
Detroit dropped its game to Chicago 7-4, giving the Tribe its first sole division lead in a month. Santana lost his third straight start in an emotional game in front of tragedy-stricken Minnesota fans, while Sabathia became the first AL pitcher to 14 wins. Much-touted left-hander Aaron Laffey will make his major league debut at the Metrodome tonight. (More Johan Santana stories.)