Guardians 6 - 2 Tigers
Final
  for this game

Indians win DH opener against Tigers

Jul 19, 2014 - 10:51 PM Detroit, MI (SportsNetwork.com) - Corey Kluber recorded 10 strikeouts while coming within an out of his second career complete game as the Cleveland Indians posted a 6-2 win over the Detroit Tigers in the opener of a day-night doubleheader at Comerica Park.

Kluber (10-6) allowed two runs on seven hits and a walk in 8 2/3 innings.

"He was terrific," said Indians manager Terry Francona. "He commanded his fastball especially to his glove side ... and then he could spin his breaking ball off that. He was really good."

Jason Kipnis and David Murphy each had two RBI for Cleveland, and Yan Gomes finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored in the win.

The Tigers recalled Drew VerHagen (0-1) from Triple-A Toledo to make his major league debut in Game 1. He gave up three runs on five hits with four strikeouts and three walks in five innings.

The Indians were held to a Michael Brantley bunt single through the first four innings by VerHagen before scoring three runs in the fifth against the 23-year-old righty.

Cleveland strung together three straight hits after Lonnie Chisenhall walked to begin the inning. Nick Swisher drove a pitch over the head of center fielder Austin Jackson for an RBI double and scored on a Murphy single to right.

Ryan Raburn then grounded into a double play, but a base hit by Kipnis plated Gomes.

"The fifth was definitely a little rocky," said VerHagen. "I was getting behind guys but I think it's something that I'll just try to improve and get better each start. I think overall it was solid for a first start. I'm happy. It was a fun experience."

Detroit got on the board in the bottom of the fifth. Eugenio Suarez led off by drawing a walk and Bryan Holaday followed with a single. After Rajai Davis hit into a double play, Jackson beat out a high chopper over the mound to score Suarez.

Kipnis added a second RBI single in the seventh to make it 4-1 before the Indians tacked on two ninth-inning runs.

Gomes doubled and scored on a Murphy base hit after reliever Corey Knebel threw a wild pitch. Murphy took second on a passed ball and came around on an Asdrubal Cabrera two-out single.

Miguel Cabrera had three of the Tigers' seven hits and scored on a J.D. Martinez groundout in the bottom of the ninth.

Game Notes

Kluber threw 114 pitches, 79 for strikes ... VerHagen was 6-7 with a 3.67 ERA in 19 starts with the Mud Hens this season ... Cleveland was 6-for-13 with runners in scoring position.






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