Cleveland Indians Team Report - May 3

(Sports Network) - Trying to win back-to-back games for just the third time this year, the Cleveland Indians play the second of a three-game set against the Texas Rangers this afternoon at Jacobs Field.

On Friday night, Ellis Burks hit his second two-run double of the game in the eighth inning to erase a one-run deficit and lift Cleveland over the Rangers, 6-5, in the opener.

Jody Gerut and Travis Hafner each belted homers for the Indians, who snapped an eight-game slide, but the victory still left them 11 games out of first place in the American League Central.

Dave Elder picked up his first win of the season with just one-third of an inning of work, in which he walked one and struck out one.

Danys Baez collected his fourth save of the season after yielding one hit in a scoreless ninth.

Taking the ball and making his fifth start of the season for the Indians is Jake Westbrook. The righthander last appeared versus the Oakland A's last weekend, throwing 5 2/3 innings and giving up three earned runs on seven hits in what resulted in a 6-3 loss for Cleveland.

Although Westbrook has given up just one home run in 23 2/3 innings of work this season, he has issued nine bases-on-balls, compared to just eight strikeouts.

Westbrook has yet to factor into a decision against the Rangers, but he has pitched six innings, allowing a pair of earned runs, while striking out four and walking one in his career.

The Indians are second to last in the AL in batting average at .239 and as a result have scored the second-fewest runs, ahead of only the Detroit Tigers on both counts.

Cleveland started the 2003 campaign with seven consecutive losses against the AL West. Last year the team was 4-5 versus the Rangers but has a mark of 15-13 over the past three seasons.

05/03 10:58:39 ET