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Martinez homer helps Tigers down Indians

Sep 3, 2014 - 5:23 AM Cleveland, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - J.D. Martinez hit safely three times and struck the go-ahead three-run home run in the ninth inning, lifting the Detroit Tigers to a 4-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians in the second edition of a four-game series.

Victor Martinez, Rajai Davis and Miguel Cabrera each collected three hits for the Tigers, who won in more convincing fashion, 12-1, in Monday's opener and have taken five of their last seven overall.

Detroit remained a half-game behind Kansas City in the AL Central, following the Royals' 2-1 win against Texas.

Phil Coke (3-2) turned in four outs of scoreless relief, while Joe Nathan closed out the contest to earn his 29th save. Recalled from Triple-A Toledo before the game, Kyle Lobstein started and fanned a career-best 10 over 5 1/3 frames. He surrendered three walks, five hits and two runs.

Carlos Santana posted a two-run blast while Michael Brantley added two hits and scored a run for the Indians, losers of two straight after winning six of seven. Cody Allen (5-4) suffered the loss and a blown save after serving up the deciding blast to Martinez.

"He really didn't command his fastball tonight," Indians manager Terry Francona said of Allen.

Carlos Carrasco struck out 10 over his 5 1/3-inning outing, scattering 10 hits and one run.

"He had that slider working," Tigers outfielder Torii Hunter said of Carrasco.

Allen walked Hunter to start the ninth and Cabrera followed with a single. A Victor Martinez fly to center failed to advance the runners, but J.D. Martinez left no doubt in taking a pitch well over the wall in center to give the Tigers a 4-2 edge.

Nathan allowed a two-out hit to Brantley but quickly ended the contest by inducing a fly to left by Santana.

Santana's two-run shot in the first staked Cleveland to an early lead, then Detroit picked up a run in the second as Alex Avila's walk with the bases loaded forced in Victor Martinez.

Carrasco had to deal with at least two baserunners in every inning except the first, and was pulled with in the sixth after Davis singled with one away. Scott Atchison allowed a base hit to Ian Kinsler but Hunter grounded into an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.

The Indians left the bases loaded in the home half after Michael Bourn flied to center, then the Tigers left two more in the seventh. Coke then retired Jason Kipnis on a fly to right with two on in the home portion before setting down the hosts in turn in the bottom of the eighth.

Game Notes

Carrasco joined the following Cleveland pitchers to record 10-or-more strikeouts in no more than 5 1/3 innings pitched: Danny Salazar (4/10/14), Bartolo Colon (7/26/00) and Sam McDowell (4/15/65 and 9/14/69) ... Prior to the game, the Tigers recalled pitchers Buck Farmer, Robbie Ray, Kyle Ryan and Buck Farmer from Toledo ... The Indians activated outfielder Ryan Raburn from the 15-day disabled list ... Tigers catcher Alex Avila left the game in the bottom of the sixth inning with an undisclosed injury after a foul ball struck him flush in the mask.