SEATTLE - May Madness came to a crazed ending for Jason Kipnis. In a way, it made perfect sense based on what the Indians second baseman has done this month.

Kipnis doubled twice, scored a run and drove in a run Sunday as the Indians beat Seattle, 6-3, in 12 innings at Safeco Field. The victory closed the curtain on a sizzling month by Kipnis.

He hit .429 (51-for-119) with 30 runs, 15 doubles, four homers and 17 RBI in May. He hit safely in 25 of 29 games and collected 16 walks and three steals along the way. The offensive outburst raised his batting average from .218 to .340.

"To reach 30 runs and 50 hits in the way we did it makes it even better," said Kipnis. "We did it in a win and in an extra-inning game.

"The 51 hits is a lot of hard work in the cages coming to fruition. The 30 runs is a credit to my teammates. I can get on base, but I'm not scoring without them. They're driving me in.

"It was a fun month. No only for me, but our team as well. We're finally starting to turn it around."

The Indians went 17-12 in May compared to 7-14 in April.

"All these things wouldn't have been nearly as fun if we were losing games," said Kipnis. "It's awesome the way it's worked out. I've got a big smile on my face right now."

Kipnis is the eighth Indians player since 1914 to score 30 runs and get 50 or more hits in one month. Jeff Heath was the last to do it when he scored 31 runs and had 58 hits in August of 1938.

The left-handed hitting Kipnis is the only Indian in history to have 51 hits in May.

Kipnis is the first big league player to collect at least 50 hits and 30 runs in a month since Jimmy Rollins did it for the Phillies in September and October of 2005. He is the first AL player to do it since Derek Jeter did it for the Yankees (50 hits, 30 runs) September and October of 1998.

The names of the players Kipnis is now standing shoulder to shoulder to surprised him.

"It's hard to get your head around it," he said. "I've told you guys I can get hot with the best of them and I can get cold with the best of them."

Right now Kipnis is enjoying the heat.

"He had an unbelievable month," said manager Terry Francona. "I think he's an unbelievable player. He does so many things to help us win. He's been a force for a long time."

Kipnis didn't score the 30th run until the 12th when David Murphy's single delivered Jose Ramirez and him as insurance runs.

"To have it go extras and work out the way it did ... I'm just a happy guy," said Kipnis.

Said Murphy, "Righty, lefty, fastball, curveball, he's hitting everything ... It's been fun to watch."