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Indians tag Verlander early to take down Tigers

May 21, 2014 - 4:16 AM Cleveland, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - Mike Aviles sparked Cleveland's four-run second inning with a two-run double and the Indians downed the Detroit Tigers, 6-2, in the second test of a three-game set Tuesday at Progressive Field.

Michael Bourn and Asdrubal Cabrera each plated a run during the rally in support of starter Trevor Bauer, who was recalled from Triple-A Columbus prior to the game.

Making just his second start of the season and first since April 9, Bauer (1-1) spun six-plus solid frames, allowing just two runs on seven hits and three walks with five strikeouts to pick up the win.

"He did a lot of things good," Cleveland manager Terry Francona said of Bauer. "He competed, he pitched in, he was aggressive attacking the strike zone."

David Murphy added a solo homer in the seventh for the Indians, who claimed a 5-4 victory in Monday's series opener thanks to Michael Brantley's game- winning blast in the bottom of the 10th inning.

Torii Hunter and Alex Avila both homered to account for Detroit's offense, while starter Justin Verlander (5-3) surrendered five runs on 11 hits and three walks over six innings to absorb the loss.

"It just seemed like tonight their whole lineup was really focused and really battling me," Verlander said of the Indians. "They were waiting for their pitch."

The Tigers had won 11 straight on the road and six in a row overall prior to Monday's extra-inning setback.

Hunter belted a Bauer offering deep into the seats in left-center field with one out in the first, but Cleveland countered with a run in the home half before breaking out for four more in the second.

Lonnie Chisenhall capped a string of three straight singles with an RBI base hit to tie the game in the first before Nick Swisher stroked a ground-rule double with one out in the second.

After Yan Gomes walked, Aviles laced a double into the gap in left-center field to plate a pair for a 3-1 lead. Bourn followed with a two-bagger of his own to score Aviles, and after swiping third, the speedy center fielder scored on Cabrera's base hit to right for a 5-1 lead.

Avila launched a leadoff homer to left-center field in the fifth to slice the margin to 5-2. Umpires reviewed the play after the ball hit the top of the high wall and bounced back into play, but the call was quickly confirmed.

Bauer ran into trouble in the sixth after issuing consecutive one-out walks, but the Cleveland right-hander made an athletic play to complete a 3-6-1 double play. Nick Castellanos, who hit the grounder, was originally ruled safe at first, but Francona challenged the play and video review showed the ball skip into Bauer's glove just before Castellanos touched first.

Murphy provided some insurance with a one-out blast in the seventh and Cleveland's bullpen did the rest, as Bryan Shaw and Cody Allen combined to hold the Tigers hitless over the final three frames.

Game Notes

Brantley singled in the first inning to extend his home hitting streak to 17 games ... Detroit's Miguel Cabrera went 1-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to 11 games, while Victor Martinez finished 0-for-3 to snap his nine-game hitting streak. Martinez also fanned twice in a game for the first time this season ... In addition to the Bauer move, the Indians activated designated hitter Jason Giambi from the 15-day disabled list, recalled infielder Justin Sellers from Columbus and optioned infielders Jesus Aguilar and Jose Ramirez, and pitcher T.J. House to Columbus ... Detroit finished 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position ... Verlander threw 116 pitches, just three shy of his season-high set on April 22 against the White Sox.