Indians 9, Tigers 6: Shin-Soo Choo had three hits and scored three runs, and Michael Brantley and Casey Kotchman hit home runs as Cleveland beat Detroit for the fifth consecutive time.
Indians starter Jeanmar Gomez (4-4) earned his first win at Comerica Park despite a rough outing. He allowed six runs on seven hits over five innings, including solo home runs to Don Kelly in the third and Miguel Cabrera in the fourth. Cabrera added an RBI double and scored in the four-run fifth.
Detroit counterpart Max Scherzer (5-4) allowed eight runs (five earned) on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings in suffering his first loss since April 29. He had won his last three starts and last four decisions.
The game's first seven runs were scored on home runs as both starters struggled to keep the ball in the park.
Brantley extended his hitting streak to 14 games and staked Gomez to an early lead with his first home run of the season, a three-run blast in the first against Scherzer. Kotchman added his fourth home run in the fourth, a two-run blast against Scherzer.
Four Indians relievers combined for four scoreless innings, with Chris Perez working around a one-out triple by Jhonny Peralta in the ninth for his 19th save.Detroit's Prince Fielder extended his hitting streak to 12 games with an RBI single in the fifth.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Indians hit two home runs after hitting just two in the previous six games. … Indians OF Johnny Damon robbed Fielder of a home run with a leaping catch over the wall in left in the second. … Damon was activated from the paternity leave list before the game, and Luke Carlin was optioned to Triple-A Columbus. … Tigers C Alex Avila was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring. … Tigers OF Austin Jackson will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Toledo on Thursday.
Cleveland | Detroit | |
Jeanmar Gomez | Player | Max Scherzer |
Win | W/L | Loss |
5.0 | IP | 4.1 |
0 | Strikeouts | 2 |
7 | Hits | 7 |
10.80 | ERA | 10.38 |
Cleveland | Detroit | |
Shin-Soo Choo | Player | Miguel Cabrera |
3 | Hits | 2 |
0 | RBI | 2 |
0 | HR | 1 |
4 | TB | 6 |
.600 | Avg | .500 |