NEW YORK – After the Indians learned they will be without Grady Sizemore for at least a month or two, Mark Teixeira and Derek Jeter reminded Cleveland that it has more problems than just a missing star center fielder.

Teixeira hit a three-run homer after Jeter sparked a rally with a two-out, two-run single, A.J. Burnett pitched eight innings and the New York Yankees beat the Cleveland Indians 7-3 Sunday.

Cleveland starter Justin Masterson pitched well, too, but the Yankees’ situational hitting – and that three-run homer – made the difference.

“Masterson was tough today,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “On the home run by Teixeira, it was a huge hit for us. We were having a hard time scoring runs. Then we got a couple of guys on base and Jeter came through with a big hit.”

The game turned around over the span of three batters in the seventh inning, which began with Cleveland up 3-0. Masterson, who has struggled to retire left-handed hitters all season, held the lefty-heavy Yankees scoreless through six.

Switch-hitter Swisher and lefty Brett Gardner singled before Jeter, who looked awkward in striking out his previous time at bat, poked a two-out single up the middle.

“The one to Jeter just stayed up,” catcher Lou Marson said. “It was a pretty good piece of hitting.”

Tony Sipp came in to face Curtis Granderson for the second time in this series, and Granderson doubled off the Indians’ lefty again, as he did on Friday night.

Sipp, who had allowed three earned runs in 21 appearances before this weekend, has now given up six in two appearances, retiring only one of the eight batters he faced.

“He’s a guy I’m going to go right after,” Sipp said of Granderson. “Sometimes, he’s going to get me and sometimes I’m going to get him. It hasn’t happened this year.”

Sipp still could have gotten out of trouble by retiring Teixeira. Instead, Teixeira connected for the 250th home run of his career, a blast that landed at the back of the bleachers section in left field.

“I was just trying to hit a ball up the middle,” Teixeira said. “When he hung that slider, I could put a good swing on it.

It was just another headache from a bullpen full of them for Cleveland, which has a 4.72 ERA and five blown saves in 12 chances for its up-and-down relievers, not to mention an ugly ratio of 81 walks to 97 strikeouts.

Burnett (6-2), struck out eight and allowed only one earned run in eight innings. Mariano Rivera pitched the ninth.

Alex Rodriguez was 0-for-3 a day after hitting Cleveland pitcher David Huff in the head with a line drive. Huff showed no symptoms of a concussion before the game, smiling and joking around in the dugout.

Roughly 24 hours after Huff’s injury put a scare into both teams, Rivera had to leap over the barrel of Luis Valbuena’s broken bat to field the ball for the final out.

Juan Miranda added an RBI double in the eighth for New York and Francisco Cervelli hit a sacrifice fly to score another.

Sizemore’s replacement for the time being, Trevor Crowe, hit an RBI single in the third and made a nice play to run down Robinson Cano’s deep drive to end the sixth inning. While Crowe has the job for now, the Indians also may see some more in center from Michael Brantley, who is at Triple-A Columbus.

After making it 1-0, Crowe was caught in a rundown after Burnett threw over to first, catching him off the bag.

The Indians scored two runs in the seventh on shortstop Jeter’s throwing error and Jason Donald’s RBI triple off Swisher’s glove in right field.

Masterson was charged with three runs, striking out eight in 6 2/3 innings.

“I had good control, we made a little mechanical adjustment, things worked out a little bit better,” Masterson said. “I was happy with the overall performance today.”

TODAY

• WHO: Cleveland at N.Y. Yankees
• TIME: 1:05 p.m.
• WHERE: Yankee Stadium
• PITCHERS: Talbot (6-3, 3.73 ERA) vs. Pettitte (6-1, 2.62)
• TV/RADIO: SportsTime Ohio; WEOL 930-AM, WTAM 1100-AM

NEW YORK – Even a few hours after he took a line drive off his head, Indians pitcher David Huff was cracking jokes and trying to make people laugh.

A day later, he thought he’d be ready to make his next start.

New York’s Alex Rodriguez hit an RBI double off the side of Huff’s head in the third inning of Saturday’s game. The ball bounced into right field and Huff went down and stayed motionless for a while until giving a thumbs up as he was carted off the field.

“Anytime a pitcher gets hit by a line drive, everybody thinks the worst, especially when he’s not moving,” Huff said Sunday. “I just wanted to give a hand wave or some indication that I was all right.”

Huff had more neurological testing done at the ballpark Sunday, and will continue to be evaluated for post-concussive symptoms, which don’t always manifest immediately.

He said he slept well, had no headaches, and basically almost forgot that he had been hit unless he scratched his head on the wrong side.

Cleveland’s medical staff hasn’t decided if Huff is fit to take his next turn in the rotation yet, though Huff said he’s ready to go.

Rodriguez tried to go to the hospital afterward, but Huff was already back in the Indians’ clubhouse, celebrating Cleveland’s come-from-behind 13-11 win.

Instead, he gave Huff a call.

“It was a good conversation,” Huff said. “I was trying to get him to laugh because I know he was pretty struck by that as far as emotionally.”

It was a scary scene. Rodriguez looked stricken, crouching behind the mound as medical staff attended to the fallen pitcher.

Huff said he knew not to move because he may have had a serious head or neck injury. However, he never lost consciousness and told trainers who rushed out to the mound that he wanted them to let his family know he was OK.

“He was conscious, he was alert, he wanted to stand up, but we encouraged him to remain on the ground and motionless until we could evaluate,” Indians trainer Lonnie Soloff said.

Huff’s parents and brother were in the stands, and joined him at the hospital.

Soloff pointed out that the ball going so far after hitting Huff was a good sign, meaning less energy was absorbed by Huff’s skull.

Cleveland fell behind 10-4 at one point Saturday, but came back against the Yankees’ bullpen. Huff watched from the hospital.

“It’s funny because we took a lead and we were just about to leave – and you know baseball, guys are superstitious. Maybe I should stay here if we’re going to keep scoring runs.”

Lewis up; Laffey down

Right-handed reliever Jensen Lewis was called up from Columbus before Sunday’s game. Left-handed pitcher Aaron Laffey was sent down so he can build innings in an attempt to join the Indians’ rotation.

• Designated hitter Travis Hafner singled in the first inning Sunday, reaching base for the 20th straight game.

• Shin-Soo Choo was 0-for-4, bringing his slump to 0-for-17.

CLEVELAND — Forced into the role out of necessity, Jake Westbrook hasn’t been much of an ace as the Indians’ No. 1 starter this season.

That’s evident by his 2-3 record and 4.78 ERA in 10 starts. What he has been is a pitcher that appears on the right track to recovering from Tommy John surgery and finding the form that made him a quality arm in Cleveland’s rotation for years.

Right now, that’s good enough for Westbrook and the Indians.

“He’s close,” said manager Manny Acta, who with few other options, named West­brook as his opening-day starter just months after being hired to replace Eric Wedge. “He’s dependable. At least we know he’s going to go out every five days and give us a chance.

“We’re satisfied with where he’s at right now, coming from where’s coming from.”

Most importantly for West­brook, he’s been healthy. The elbow surgery sapped close to two years from the right-hander’s career, but he hasn’t endured a setback since last season.

“I feel great,” said Westbrook, who averaged 30 starts and 197.4 innings as a starter from 2004-07 before the elbow injury struck shortly into the 2008 season. “I feel strong. I think the biggest thing for me is just being consistent each time out. That’s something I haven’t been able to do.

“I think I’ve only been a part of a couple wins, and I haven’t been able to help the team win ballgames. That’s been the most frustrating part of it for me.”

Westbrook, 32, has run the gamut of pitching performances this season.

He’s been bad, as he was against the Rangers in the season opener (five runs, four walks and four wild pitches in four innings) and the Blue Jays on May 4 (four runs, five hits and five walks in 3 2/ 3 innings).

He’s been average on most occasions, and he’s been top-shelf on others, as evidenced by a two-start stretch this month in which he allowed two earned runs over 15 innings, capped by a complete-game, eight-strikeout victory over the Orioles on May 16.

The ability is obviously there. It’s just taking a while to harness it on a regular basis, which is understandable for a pitcher in Westbrook’s spot.

“It’s just little things and being comfortable back on the mound every five days,” said Westbrook, who said he agrees with Acta’s assessment that he’s close to finding his old form. “I have to believe it’s going to get better as the season progresses.”

Though he was an all-star in 2004, Westbrook was never an ace before the elbow injury, and few were expecting him to pitch like one in a comeback year this season.

What the Indians are hoping is that Westbrook is past the elbow ailments for good and that he can return to being the dependable starting pitcher and valuable veteran clubhouse presence he’s been before.

“We think he is close to being that guy again,” Acta said.

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.

Amherst

The city will hold its annual Memorial Day parade at 10 a.m. Monday. Line-up will be at 9 a.m. from the corner of Washington Avenue and Cleveland Street to Amherst’s Marion L. Steele High School. A short memorial service will be at the Cleveland Street cemetery at 9:55 a.m.

The parade begins at Washington Avenue. Participants will march south to Forest Street then west on Park Avenue to the Five Points. Once the band gets to City Hall, the parade will halt for a short, 15-minute ceremony. The parade will then continue toward City Hall. For more information or to participate, please call (440) 714-1213 or (440) 984-3398. This event is to honor all of our veterans.

Avon

The Avon Memorial Day Parade will be 9 a.m. Monday. The parade begins at the Avon Senior Center, 36784 Detroit Road, and proceeds east on Detroit, ending at the historic cemetery and VFW memorial at the southeast corner of Detroit Road and state Route 83. Post members will be distributing poppies along the route.

Avon Mayor Jim Smith will join officers from VFW Post 7035 in a ceremony honoring the city’s war dead. After taps and a 21-gun salute, VFW members will go to Resthaven and St. Mary’s cemeteries for ceremonies.

Post 7035 commander Andy Fuechter will present donations from the post to Avon Police and Fire departments, and the Avon High School band.

The community is invited to enjoy a complimentary beverage and lunch at the VFW, 36950 Mills Road, on Memorial Day.

Avon Lake

The Avon Lake Memorial Day Parade will be at 10 a.m. Monday. The parade begins at the north drive of Avon Lake High School, 175 Avon Belden Road. It proceeds north to Electric Boulevard, where it turns left and proceeds to Glenview Drive, turns left and proceeds back to Avon Belden Road, where it goes north to Lake Road and into Veterans Park. A ceremony with American Legion Post 211 will be held at Veterans Park, including throwing a wreath into the lake, prayers and speeches.

Birmingham

“Land of the Free, Because of the Brave” is the theme for the Memorial Day parade in Birmingham on Monday. Line-up for all horses will be in the North parking lot. Parking for parade participants will be available on the north side of South Street at the Birmingham United Methodist Church and the west side of the field behind the Community Center. The parade will step off at 1 p.m. Services will follow at Birmingham Cemetery. New this year after the services will be a car show at the Community Center. All old cars welcome. Cub Scout Pack 435 will be selling refreshments.

In case of rain, the services will be on the south porch of the Birmingham Community Center and the car show will be canceled. For information, call Debby Shieve at (440) 965-8792.

Brighton Township

The Memorial Day ceremony will be Monday. All marching units are to meet at Brighton Center. The parade to the township cemetery will begin at 9 a.m. Also, there will be a pancake and sausage breakfast 7:30 a.m. until all are served, although service will be halted 9 to 9:30 a.m. so all can attend the parade and ceremony. The cost is $5 for adults, $3 for children, and it will be at the Brighton Congregational Church, 22086 state Route 511. All proceeds benefit the church building project.

Columbia Station

The parade will form at 10:30 a.m. at the Columbia Middle School. The parade kicks off at 11 a.m. from the middle school and will proceed to the cemetery and continue on to the Veterans Memorial site on state Route 82.

After the parade, hot dogs and beverages will be provided for the children at the pavilion in the park. The VFW Post 9340, 25742 Royalton Road, will also host an open house for adults.

Elyria

Memorial Day in Elyria will once again be all about pancakes, parades and prayers for the fallen.

Lorain National Bank is sponsoring Main Street Elyria’s sixth annual Memorial Day pancake breakfast 7:30 to 10 a.m. Monday at St. Andrews Church.

The Memorial Day festivities will begin with an 8 a.m. ceremony in Ely Square followed by the parade, which will begin at 10 a.m. from Court Street and travel down Broad Street to Washington Avenue. It then turns on Harrison Street and will end at the Ridgelawn Cemetery.

Volunteers from the Organization Committee of Main Street Elyria plan to prepare and serve the $5 breakfast that consists of pancakes, sausage, coffee and juice. As a salute, veterans in uniform receive special pricing of $4 and $3 for children ages 4 to 12. Children under 3 are free. For more information, call Main Street Elyria at (440) 322-5000 or visit www.mainstreetelyria.com.

Fitchville

Memorial Day services will be at 2 p.m.

Monday at the Township Hall on Crescent Road, followed by a march to the cemetery The public is invited.

Grafton

The annual Memorial Day parade will line up at the Grafton Police Department beginning at 11:30 a.m. The parade will step off at noon.

The route will be down Chestnut Street to the five points, then down Main Street, where there will be a short program and memorial service at Grafton Village Hall before continuing down the street.

Grafton Township

Belden’s annual program and parade will begin at the Grafton Township Fire Hall at 10 a.m. The Fire Department, Midview band and AFROTC will be participating, as well as the choir from the Belden United Methodist Church and the Rev. Jeff Lanzer. The parade will begin at the hall and end at the Belden Cemetery where a short program will take place. Refreshments will follow at the town hall.

Kipton

The Kipton/Camden/Henrietta parade will be 2 p.m. Sunday in Kipton, followed by a ceremony at 2:30 p.m.

Parade marchers can bring items to be sent to area members of the military serving overseas. Items requested include shampoo, wet wipes, paper, pens, playing cards, hard candy, gum and puzzle books.

LaGrange

Memorial Day events will begin at 11 a.m.

Monday at the Keystone Middle School. The parade will proceed to the Civil War monument at the town circle where Navy veteran Dan Opfer will lay a wreath. The parade will proceed to Veterans Park on state Route 303 and West Street. Drew Boden of Boy Scout Troop 118 will then give the invocation. The speaker will be LTC Karen Wright of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps.

Lorain

The annual Memorial Day parade will begin at 11 a.m. at 18th Street and Broadway. The route will head north on Broadway to Erie Avenue where it will head west to Washington Avenue. Those participating in the parade are asked to line up on Broadway between 17th and 20th streets by 10:30 a.m.

Candy and brochures will be handed out to the curb-side crowd during the parade.

A service for veterans will be held at 2 p.m.

Sunday at the Palace Theater. Doors open at 1 p.m. and the event is open to the public.

Lorain firefighters will hold a fireman’s memorial at 9 a.m. Monday in Veteran’s Park at the fireman’s memorial.

New London

Memorial Day activities will get under way with a breakfast at the New London American Legion, 185 N. Main St., 7 to 10 a.m.

The Legion honor guard will perform the Memorial Day salute at Holy Cross Cemetery at 8:45 a.m. and at Grove Street Cemetery at 9 a.m. A parade will start at the Legion at 10 a.m., and will proceed to Memorial Park, next to the library on South Main Street. A ceremony will take place that will include members of the Legion and Legion Auxiliary, the high school and junior high bands, and the Rev. Doug Lang and the Rev. Cathy Ake.

The Memorial Day address will be given by Col. Reginald Fowkes, who retired after 26 years in the U.S. Army. He served in Vietnam, England, France and Germany and he now lives on his wife’s family farm near New London.

North Ridgeville

Memorial parade and ceremony will be Monday. The parade will start lining up in the Marc’s parking lot at 9 a.m. and will begin at 9:45 a.m. The parade route will proceed west on Center Ridge Road and conclude at the Ranger Stadium behind North Ridgeville Middle School.

All participants and spectators are encouraged to attend the Memorial Day ceremony following the parade in the stadium. The ceremony will pay tribute to our fallen veterans and feature patriotic selections played by the North Ridgeville Marching Band.

The parade and Memorial Day ceremony is organized by the North Ridgeville VFW Post 9871 and the North Ridgeville Lions Club. For information, call David Bogner at (440) 327-2955.

Oberlin

The Oberlin Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6273 will hold a Memorial Day ceremony at 9 a.m. Monday at Wright Park in Oberlin.

Veterans will gather near the Wright Park Soldiers Memorial. Also, the Oberlin Veterans of Foreign War will have a flag disposal ceremony at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Oberlin Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6273, 42369 Oberlin-Elyria Road. Cub Scouts will take part in the ceremony. Call (440) 323-5315 to find out about dropping off a worn-out or damaged flag for disposal.

Penfield Township

The Penfield Township parade will assemble at 10 a.m. at the west end of Horseshoe Drive. The band will lead the parade to the monument.

The welcome speech will be given by Penfield Township trustee Duane Johnson, followed by the invocation by the Rev. James Reymann of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Wellington. The ceremony will also have the reading of Veterans names, feature taps, a performance by the band and the raising of the flag.

Sheffield

The village will honor its patriots with cemetery services, the playing of taps and 21-gun salutes.

At 11 a.m., Sheffield will have its annual flag raising and lowering ceremony followed by a 21-gun salute at the Village Hall.

Sheffield Lake

Sheffield Lake residents can attend services at the VFW Post 8686, 577 Harris Road, at 11 a.m. Monday or help AMVETS put flags on grave sites in the city’s cemeteries. AMVETS will begin its efforts at 7:30 a.m. and afterward will return to the AMVETS post to play taps.

Vermilion

Vermilion AMVETS members will place flags at local cemeteries including Maple Grove and Rugby cemeteries at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Vermilion E&R Church at 752 Grand St. will dedicate its 10:30 a.m. Sunday worship service in honor of Memorial Day. The community is invited to join for prayer and reflection.

At 2 p.m. Sunday, the Vermilion Veterans Council Rifle Squad, Color Guard and Auxiliary will meet at 3:30 p.m. at Volunteer Bay, followed by services at 4 p.m. at the Inn at Chappel Creek. Services will also be 4 p.m. at the Lake Road Cemetery, commonly called McKenzie Woods. Vermilion High School will be the scene of services at 5 p.m. All times are tentative.

Veterans will gather at 7 a.m. Memorial Day at the American Legion post for coffee and doughnuts, followed by an 8 a.m.

observance to lower the American flag to half-staff at Exchange Park where a wreath will be placed. The same observance will be repeated at 9 a.m. at Maple Grove Cemetery. At 10 a.m., units will form at Ferry Street for the Memorial Day parade.

Services will be 11 a.m. at Victory Park featuring Lt. Col. Joel Hagy, a U.S. Army veteran.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Committee

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Committee will hold its annual Memorial Vigil on Saturday at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial of Lorain County on North Lake Street in Amherst. The opening ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. and the closing ceremony will be at midnight. Amherst Mayor David Taylor will speak, the Rev.

Michael Plog, of Faith Baptist Church, Amherst, will give the invocation and Joseph Koziura, a Vietnam veteran and candidate for Lorain County commissioner, will be the keynote speaker. The Army ROTC of Southview High School, led by 1st Sgt. Sam A. O’Bechi, and the Navy ROTC of Admiral King, led by Commander Daniel Tuttle, will be the Color Guard, Dennis Munoz will be the vocalist and Ron Tennant will play “Amazing Grace” and taps.

All are welcome. For information, call Don Attie at (440) 320-3781.

Wakeman

Participants in Monday’s activities should gather near the Wakeman Congregational Church at 6:45 a.m. A march to the old school on River Street will take place at 7 a.m. Area Scout troops will present and raise the flag and lead the Pledge of Allegiance. The Gettysburg Address will be presented by Christen Dillon, and the Memorial Day address will be given by Legion member Ross Baird.

Also participating in the activities will be the Western Reserve band and other members of the Wakeman American Legion. Breakfast will be served 8 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. at the Legion Hall following the event.

The public is invited.

Wellington

Services will get under way at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the monument in front of Town Hall. That will be followed by a parade led by the Wellington High School band.