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Peralta, Raburn hit consecutive HRs to boost Tigers over Indians

Jun 16, 2011 - 11:13 PM Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Jhonny Peralta and Ryan Raburn hit back-to- back home runs, and Victor Martinez added two RBI, as the Detroit Tigers downed the Cleveland Indians, 6-2, in the rubber match of a three-game set from Comerica Park.

The fourth inning homers by Peralta and Raburn broke open a tie game, as the Tigers won for the third time in four tries to reclaim sole possession of first place in the AL Central.

Max Scherzer (9-2) lasted 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four.

Mitch Talbot (2-4) surrendered six runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out three in just four-plus innings.

"I thought that Mitch just labored," said Indians manager Manny Acta. "He flat out labored."

The Indians, who have dropped 11 of their last 14, struck for two runs in the first, but finished just 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

With two down in the first, Cleveland got on the board in unorthodox fashion, as Michael Brantley ripped a 3-2 fastball into the corner in right. Brantley slid into third with a triple and Raburn's throw sailed passed the bag before bouncing into the stands to score Brantley. Asdrubal Cabrera followed with a double, before scoring on Shin-Soo Choo's triple to right- center.

Undaunted, the Tigers responded immediately, as Austin Jackson drew a leadoff walk, stole second and came around to score on Don Kelly's single to center. Brennan Boesch and Miguel Cabrera followed with consecutive singles to load the bases before Martinez's sac fly plated Kelly. Magglio Ordonez then ripped a line drive to short, but Asdrubal Cabrera snared the ball and flipped it behind his back to double Boesch off second.

"The key was the first inning," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland. "I thought the fact that we responded and came right back with a two-spot in the first, that usually says good things when it happens for you and it usually says bad things when it happens against you."

With two-down in the fourth, Peralta barely cleared the fence in left to give the Tigers a 3-2 lead and Raburn followed with a blast in the same direction, which carried significantly further.

The Tigers poured it on in the fifth, as Kelly, Boesch and Cabrera led off with consecutive singles. Cabrera's grounder up the middle scored Kelly and chased Talbot from the game. In relief, Frank Herrmann allowed a Martinez RBI single to center before sandwiching an Alex Avila walk between an Ordonez groundout and a Peralta double play to end the inning.

The Indians appeared poised to respond the next half inning, loading the bases with two down, but Adam Everett popped out to right to end the threat.

Game Notes

Despite the loss, the Indians are 15-4 when they score in the first inning...Entering the game, the Tigers ranked tops in the American League in the month of June with a .302 batting average...Al Alburquerque has not allowed a run over his last 10 appearances for the Tigers.