Tigers 7, Indians 5: Ian Kinsler belted a three-run homer and finished with four RBIs as host Detroit overcame three errors to split a two-game series with Cleveland.
Austin Jackson drove in a pair while Miguel Cabrera scored a run and registered only his second multihit game of the season for the Tigers, who improved to 35-12 over their last 47 home meetings against the Indians. Justin Verlander (2-1) gave up three unearned runs and struck out seven during an inefficient 113-pitch outing in which he surrendered six hits and four walks over five innings.
Michael Brantley had two hits and drove in four to run his team-leading total to 14 RBIs while Lonnie Chisenhall singled in all four of his at-bats for his first career four-hit game. Danny Salazar (0-2), who became the first pitcher since 1900 to strike out 10 batters in an outing that lasted fewer than four frames in his last start, surrendered five runs on six hits and three walks while fanning three in 4 2/3 innings.
Verlander’s throwing error on a two-out bunt from Asdrubal Cabrera opened the door for David Murphy to push across the game’s first run in the fourth inning and Cleveland went ahead 3-1 in the fifth when Nick Castellanos’ fielding error led to a two-run single from Brantley. Alex Avila and Alex Gonzalez each drew a walk to lead off the bottom half ahead of Kinsler, who smacked a 3-1 fastball into the Indians’ bullpen in left-center to stake the Tigers to a 4-3 lead.
Salazar yielded an infield single to Torii Hunter and a double to Miguel Cabrera before intentionally walking Victor Martinez to load the bases, and Jackson completed the four-run frame with his second sacrifice fly. After Kinsler knocked in a run with a single in the sixth, Brantley lifted his second homer of the season in the seventh off Phil Coke before Joe Nathan tossed a flawless ninth for his second save.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Indians 2B Jason Kipnis was ejected by home plate umpire Lance Barrett in the third for arguing balls and strikes. … Verlander’s 18 career victories against Cleveland are more than he has against any other team. … The Tigers have won 15 of the last 18 meetings overall.
Cleveland | Detroit | |
Danny Salazar | Player | Justin Verlander |
Loss | W/L | Win |
4.2 | IP | 5.0 |
3 | Strikeouts | 7 |
6 | Hits | 6 |
9.64 | ERA | 0.00 |
Cleveland | Detroit | |
Lonnie Chisenhall | Player | Rajai Davis |
4 | Hits | 2 |
0 | RBI | 1 |
0 | HR | 0 |
4 | TB | 2 |
1.000 | Avg | .667 |