CLEVELAND — Grady Sizemore giveth, and C.C. Sabathia taketh away Friday night at Progressive Field. Actually, Sizemore giveth and taketh away.
Cleveland’s center fielder provided much of the offense, while mixing in some highlight-reel defense as well, and Sabathia offered up another dominating performance to help the Indians past the Reds, 6-0, in the second installment of the Battle of Ohio.
The start to the game was delayed an hour and one minute by rain.
The win, Cleveland’s first against Cincinnati after being swept in a three-game series at Great American Ball Park (May 16-18), kept the Indians 71/2 games behind the first-place White Sox in the Central Division. They remained in a tie with Kansas City for last place.
But with Sabathia on the mound, Cleveland rarely resembles a basement-dwelling club.
The left-hander was in charge from the first pitch in his 17th start of the season, shutting the Reds out through eight innings on just four hits, while striking out 11 batters.
It was the fifth time — third straight — that Sabathia has reached a double-digit strikeout total this season, and the 16th time in his career. Coupled with Cliff Lee’s 11 strikeouts in a victory over the Giants on Thursday, it is the first time Cleveland starters have struck out 10 or more in consecutive games since Gaylord Perry and Dick Tidrow accomplished the feat on July 10-11 in 1972.
“He was fantastic tonight,” said manager Eric Wedge, “from the first pitch on, all the way to the final pitch he threw in the eighth inning.”
Sabathia (6-8, 3.78 ERA) has returned to the Cy Young form he displayed last year, shaking off a slow start to the season to resemble the pitcher Cleveland fans have come to love.
“He’s looked that way for a while,” Wedge said of Sabathia, who after a four-start slide to begin the year has posted a 1.96 ERA over his last 13 outings, 3-0 with a 1.13 ERA through his last four. “He takes it to a different level.”
Sabathia has been able to maintain the stellar pace despite hearing his name in trade rumors on an almost daily basis, as the Indians struggle to stay in contention.
“I can’t even turn on the TV,” Sabathia said. “I’m coming in here enjoying my teammates and thinking about my next start. I hope I can finish the year here, but I’m not worried about any of that.”
It appeared Sabathia might be headed for an undeserved fate when the teams played to a scoreless tie through four innings, but Sizemore rode to the rescue with a solo home run with one out in the fifth to score the game’s first run.
Cleveland broke it open with a five-run sixth inning off Reds starter Daryl Thompson.
“I felt like we did a good job adding on,” said Sizemore, who contributed to the sixth-inning uprising with a two-run double. “C.C. was on and we gave him some support, which was nice.”
Sizemore also lent a hand with his glove, making what could have been his best play of the season on a deep drive from Adam Dunn, the second batter of the game.
Sizemore broke for the warning track with his back turned to the infield, making a basket catch over his shoulder with his right foot planted on the wall.
After Sizemore made the catch, Sabathia stood to the left of the mound with his hands on his head in disbelief.
“That saved the game,” Sabathia said. “That was a big catch. That meant everything.
“G’s an all-star. He’s one of the best players in the league.”
“Grady getting us on the board was big,” Wedge said. “But I think he electrified everybody with that catch. I don’t think anyone thought he had a chance.”
Sizemore looked surprised when he came down with the ball, smiling at left fielder Ben Francisco.
“I was excited,” he said. “I wouldn’t say that’s how I planned it when the ball was in the air.”
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.

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