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Tigers handle Indians, avoid sweep

Sep 6, 2012 - 4:50 AM Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Miguel Cabrera homered early and the Detroit Tigers kept pace with the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central with a 7-1 win over the Cleveland Indians.

Cabrera crushed his 35th home run to help the Tigers avoid a three-game sweep and remain a game behind the White Sox, who beat the Minnesota Twins, 6-2, on Wednesday afternoon.

Doug Fister (8-8) gave up one run on four hits and one walk with six strikeouts in seven innings to earn the win.

"It's good because our fate is in our own hands," said Fister. "We control our own destiny and we just have to take care of what we do."

Ubaldo Jimenez (9-15), who had a 7.79 earned run average in 10 starts since the All-Star break, took the loss after giving up four runs on six hits in 7 1/3 innings.

"The only thing I can do is go out there and give the best I can as long as I can," Jimenez said. "Definitely I wanted to win the game for the team and for me."

Cabrera spotted the Tigers a pair of runs in the first inning. Austin Jackson led off with a base hit and, after Andy Dirks grounded out, Cabrera hammered a 1-2 fastball over the right-field fence to make the score 2-0.

The Indians trimmed the Tigers' lead in the fourth inning. Jason Kipnis delivered a leadoff single. After Asdrubal Cabrera flew out, Carlos Santana and Michael Brantley delivered back-to-back base hits to score Kipnis.

The Tigers were only able to put one runner in scoring position until the eighth inning, when they struck for five runs.

Jimenez, who came into the game second in the AL with 84 walks, issued his first walk to Jackson with one out. Dirks laced a triple into the right- field corner to score Jackson and end Jimenez's night.

Miguel Cabrera plated Dirks with a fly out to right field before Prince Fielder slammed a 2-0 slider over the left-field wall. Delmon Young and Avisail Garcia followed with singles and Jhonny Peralta scored them with a double down the left-field line to give Detroit a six-run advantage.

After Fister escaped the fourth, the Indians were unable to put another runner in scoring position. Joaquin Benoit and Jose Valverde each tossed a scoreless inning of relief to secure the victory for Detroit.

Game Notes

Jimenez lost his fourth straight decision and fell to 1-8 since the All-Star break ... Miguel Cabrera is hitting .336 with 22 home runs and 75 RBI in 85 games against Cleveland since 2008. He is hitting .350 with 28 home runs and 94 RBI in his last 105 games ... Fister is 6-2 with a 2.48 ERA since the All- Star break, including an injury shortened outing in which he gave up seven runs in 3 2/3 innings. He has recorded a quality start in his last seven starts against Cleveland ... Detroit went 2-for-4 with runners in scoring position and stranded four ... Cleveland went 1-for-3 with runners in scoring position and left three on base.