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Tigers edge Indians

Jun 7, 2012 - 11:13 PM Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run homer while Brennan Boesch had an RBI double and scored twice as the Detroit Tigers edged the Cleveland Indians, 7-5, in the finale of a three-game set at Comerica Park.

Prince Fielder, Delmon Young and Don Kelly also drove in runs for the Tigers, who stopped a three-game skid.

Casey Crosby (1-1) gave up three runs on five hits over 5 1/3 innings to pick up his first career win. Crosby lasted just 3 1/3 innings in his major league debut after giving up six runs on four hits in a 9-4 loss to the Yankees June 1.

"I hope to get better after this one also," Crosby said. "Even though I got the win, you're not going to expect to get seven runs every outing from your team. It's great when it does, and this team is capable of it every night, but you want to help them out as much as you can."

Jose Valverde tossed a perfect ninth to pick up his 10th save of the season.

Asdrubal Cabrera and Jose Lopez drove in a pair of runs apiece and Jason Kipnis had two hits and scored twice for the Indians, losers in three of their last five.

Derek Lowe (7-4) was pegged with the loss after giving up seven runs on nine hits over five frames.

"They took advantage of a lot of poor pitches," Lowe said. "A lot of sinkers up in the zone and they were ultra-aggresive in the first inning, hence the reason they were up four runs in the first. That is a pretty big hole."

The Tigers jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first. Back-to-back singles from Quintin Berry and Boesch to open the frame put runners on the corners. Fielder followed with a single up the middle to score Berry and Young ripped a single of his own to plate Boesch. Jhonny Peralta grounded into a fielder's choice to put runners on the corners once again. A wild pitch allowed Fielder to jog home before a Kelly single scored Peralta.

Cleveland put one on the board in the fourth to make it 4-1. Kipnis walked, stole second then scored when Lopez doubled to right.

Detroit added three in the home half to go up 7-1. Worth singled, moved to second on a sacrifice then scored on Boesch's ground-rule double. Miguel Cabrera followed with a homer that bounced off the top of the fence just past the outstretched arm of Shin-Soo Choo. Choo leaped to rob Cabrera of the four-bagger, but couldn't snare it as the ball cleared the yellow line on the top of the fence for Cabrera's 12th homer of the season.

The Tribe pushed two across in the sixth and to make it 7-5.

In the sixth Asdrubal Cabrera walked and Kipnis followed with a double to put runners at second and third. Carlos Santana grounded out to plate Cabrera and Lopez's sacrifice fly scored Kipnis.

In the seventh Lou Marson and Choo hit back to back singles to put runners at first and third. Cabrera followed with a double to clear the bases.

Cleveland had two on in the eighth but Joaquin Benoit was able to get Marson to ground out and Choo to pop out to end the threat.

"Seven was a little too much to overcome today," Indians manager Manny Acta said. "But, I really like the way our offense kept battling back. They got us, a couple of times, just a hit away from tying the ball game and almost taking the lead."

Game Notes

Fielder extended his hitting streak to 14 games...Miguel Cabrera hit his 18th homer against the Indians since 2008, most among active players...Indians outfielder Michael Brantley extended his hitting streak to 15 games...Kipnis has stolen 12 consecutive bases without being thrown out. The Indians fall to 14-10 on the road this season.