Indians 3 - 2 Tigers
Final
  for this game

Indians get by Tigers thanks to Gomes, Axford

Apr 17, 2014 - 4:10 AM Detroit, MI (SportsNetwork.com) - Yan Gomes' early two-run triple and some deft relief work from John Axford staked Cleveland to a 3-2 victory over Detroit in the opener of this shortened series.

Leading by a run in the bottom of the ninth, Axford gave up a one-out hit to Alex Avila, who was credited with a double and landed at third thanks to a Michael Bourn error on the play. He recovered to fan pinch-hitter Don Kelly swinging and then induced a game-ending groundout from Rajai Davis to earn his fifth save.

Zach McAllister (2-0) won it, giving up a run on four hits over six strong frames.

"I was able to make the adjustments I wanted to in my previous start," said McAllister. "I kept the ball down and I was able to carry that over to today."

Miguel Cabrera knocked in both runs for the Tigers, with Anibal Sanchez (0-1) taking the loss by allowing two hits and three runs -- two earned -- over five full frames. He fanned eight but issued four walks.

"He (Sanchez) just hasn't gotten into any type of rhythm, any type of routine yet," said Tigers catcher Alex Avila. "His stuff was really sharp today. The only thing that was something he couldn't find was his fastball."

Three of those walks were worked by the game's first three batters. Bourn, Nick Swisher and Jason Kipnis were given free passes, and Bourn scored on Carlos Santana's double-play grounder.

Ian Kinsler doubled to start the home first, moved up on a Torii Hunter groundout and scored on Cabrera's grounder to short.

The Tribe picked up two in the second, when Asdrubal Cabrera reached on an error, David Murphy walked and both came in when Gomes laced a triple to right-center.

Davis reached on a Kipnis error to start the home eighth, moved up on Kinsler's infield hit, went to third on a Hunter double-play grounder and scored on Miguel Cabrera's single to make it 3-2.

Game Notes

Cleveland had dropped three of four against the White Sox over the weekend and saw Tuesday's series opener postponed due to rain ... Detroit has dropped five of its last seven ... Gomes and Lonnie Chisenhall each finished with two hits for the Tribe, while the Tigers had Kinsler, Victor Martinez, Austin Jackson and Avila collect two hits apiece.






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