Tigers 6 - 9 Guardians
Final
  for this game

Brantley's blast leads Cleveland past Detroit

Jul 8, 2013 - 3:20 AM Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Michael Brantley went 3-for-4 with two home runs, including a go-ahead two-run shot in the bottom of the eighth inning, as the Cleveland Indians defeated the Detroit Tigers, 9-6, in the third game of a four-game series.

A three-run homer by Torii Hunter at the top of the inning evened the game at 6-6, but Al Alburquerque (1-2) quickly coughed up the lead. He walked Nick Swisher to start the Indians' half of the frame before Brantley clubbed a 3-1 pitch to right to restore Cleveland's lead.

Cody Allen (4-1) got the final out of the top of the eighth to pick up the win, while Chris Perez threw a scoreless ninth to notch his ninth save.

Carlos Santana had a two-run homer and Lonnie Chisenhall hit a solo shot for the Indians, who snapped a four-game losing streak.

"I felt like we were loose, there wasn't any pressure put on us, and that's when we're at our best when we just go out there and play our type of game," Swisher said. "It also helps having Brantley go deep a couple times too."

Hunter drove in four runs while Miguel Cabrera went 4-for-4 with a homer and two RBI for the Tigers, who had won five straight prior to the game.

Cabrera's solo shot in the first gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead, but the Indians responded in the home half with four runs.

Jason Kipnis and Swisher drew consecutive two-out walks before Brantley scored them both with a double to left. Santana then knocked an 0-1 cutter to right center for a 4-1 advantage.

An inning later, Chisenhall delivered a leadoff homer.

The Tigers had an opportunity to score in the sixth. Cabrera and Prince Fielder got on base to begin the inning, then executed a double steal after Jhonny Peralta struck out. However, with two outs, Andy Dirks was sent down on strikes.

Brantley hammered a 1-2 pitch to right in the bottom of the inning to give Cleveland a 6-1 lead.

However, the Indians blew their five-run cushion over the next two innings. In the seventh, Ramon Santiago knocked a one-out double to center and Austin Jackson's base hit up the middle placed runners at the corners. Hunter and Cabrera then hit back-to-back RBI singles to cut the deficit to 6-3.

Hunter's smash with two aboard in the eighth tied the game.

"They jumped out early on us and we hung in there and just tried to give ourselves a chance and we did that," Hunter said.

Perez gave up a leadoff single to Peralta in the ninth, but struck out Dirks and got Alex Avila to ground into a double play to end the game.

Game Notes

Cleveland starter Corey Kluber had 10 strikeouts and allowed two runs on five hits and three walks over 6 1/3 innings ... Detroit starter Doug Fister gave up six runs on six hits and three walks in six frames ... Fielder stole a base for the first time since April 18, 2012 ... The Tigers were 4-for-13 with runners in scoring position and left 11 men on base ... On Monday, the undefeated Max Scherzer will start against Cleveland's Scott Kazmir in the series finale.






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