SEATTLE (AP) – Nearly six months later and 2,400 miles from Jacobs Field, the Cleveland Indians finished off their snowed-out, home-opening series in rousing fashion.

Playing a “home” game in their third stadium this season, the Indians used a big third inning to back Fausto Carmona in Cleveland’s 12-4 win over the Seattle Mariners in the opening game of an odd doubleheader.

Cleveland was the home team for the first game in just the second doubleheader in Safeco Field history. The twinbill was the final makeup the teams were forced to play after their four-game series in April in Cleveland was snowed out.

More importantly, the Indians stayed a half-game ahead of Boston for the best record in the American League.

The Los Angeles Angels lost to Texas, so if Cleveland sweeps the doubleheader, it is assured of opening the playoffs at home, most likely against the New York Yankees.

Luis Rivas homered and tripled in the third inning, as the Indians sent 13 batters to the plate, all of which either scored or drove in a run in the inning.

Carmona didn’t need that much offensive help and looked postseason ready. The righty likely wrapped up the AL ERA title, despite giving up a first-inning two-run homer to Seattle’s Jose Guillen – the first homer Carmona allowed since Aug. 21.

Other than Guillen’s 22nd homer, Carmona was strong, improving to 19-8 in what was likely his last start before the playoffs begin. He pitched seven innings, giving up three runs and seven hits with four strikeouts. He retired 15 straight batters at one point before Wladimir Balentien’s first career homer in the seventh.

On a clear, crisp day, a few thousand fans took advantage of the doubleheader and used their tickets for Wednesday’s nightcap to attend the afternoon matinee. A number were Indians’ fans and they had plenty to cheer in the third.

Rivas started the inning lining his first homer in more than two years off the left field foul pole in just his second at-bat since being brought up on Sept. 1. It only got worse for Seattle starter Ryan Feierabend (1-6), who gave up five hits to the next seven batters, including an RBI double to Ryan Garko and RBI single by Jason Michaels. Casey Blake finally ended Feierabend’s afternoon with a bloop double just inside the right-field line.

His replacement, Jorge Campillo didn’t fare much better. Ben Francisco greeted Campillo with a two-run single to center, before Rivas tripled to left-center. Rivas later added a two-run single in the sixth.

Despite being the home team, all Indians’ stats were credited as “road” stats. According to the Mariners, it was the first time since 1913 that a home team batted first in its own ballpark.

Notes: Cleveland won three of four of the makeup games in the snowed-out series. … Campillo left in the sixth inning after taking a line drive from Casey Blake off his right arm, near the wrist. … Rivas’ last homer came on Sept. 13, 2005 off Detroit’s Nate Robertson.

AP-ES-09-26-07 2204EDT