Final
Tigers try to maintain hold on 1st place, open set with Tribe
Sep 3, 2012 - 2:26 PMVideo
Detroit moved into a first-place tie in the division with the Chicago White Sox on Sunday when the Tigers completed a three-game sweep of their division rivals, as Justin Verlander allowed one run over eight innings and Brennan Boesch and Delmon Young both homered in the 4-2 triumph.
Verlander (13-7) gave up a leadoff home run, but allowed just three hits the rest of the way. The AL's reigning MVP and Cy Young Award winner struck out 11, issued just two walks, and improved to 12-1 in his last 13 starts against Chicago.
"We just beat a very good team, a team that has been in first place for the most part of the year," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland. "It's gonna be hard to take that away from them. They're good and they have answered every bell so far, so we just have to keep playing baseball."
The Tigers are in first place for the first time since July 25. They haven't been alone at the top since July 23.
Getting the call for the Tigers on Monday will be righty Anibal Sanchez, who is finally starting to settle in. Sanchez is still just 2-4 with a 5.29 ERA in six starts for the Tigers since being acquired from Miami, but has allowed just two earned runs in his last two starts.
Sanchez, who is 1-1 in two starts versus the Indians, absorbed the loss on Wednesday in Kansas City, but pitched well, surrendering a run and seven hits in seven innings.
"I thought he mixed well," Leyland said. "I thought his velocity was good. He picked up a little extra when he needed it. As the game went on, he got the ball down better. They hit a couple balls hard early, but then he settled in. He really showed me something his last inning out there. That was quite a few pitches for him. ... And he was up to the challenge."
Cleveland, meanwhile, will counter with rookie Corey Kluber, who is still searching for his first major league win. Kluber's latest loss came to Oakland on Wednesday when he allowed four runs (3 earned) and eight hits in six innings. He also fanned seven without walking a batter, but still fell to 0-3 to go along with a 5.16 ERA.
"I'm very encouraged by the way he threw the ball," Indians manager Manny Acta said after that game.
Acta could be enjoying his final days as a manager in Cleveland, as his job security has come into question of late, thanks in part to the team's 16th loss in 18 games on Sunday, an 8-3 setback to the Texas Rangers.
The Indians begin a 10-game road trip today, Their last two trips resulted in them going, 1-8 and 0-9.
"We're hoping we can have a better record than we had the last two times we went on the road," Acta said.
Cleveland, though, is 7-5 against the Tigers this season.
- CLEVELAND: 3
DETROIT: 2
Final
Sep 3 4:16 PM - Asdrubal Cabrera sacrifice fly to center scored Lou Marson. On the play, Jason Kipnis advances to second and Shin-Soo Choo advances to third. Runners on second and third and with two outs and Michael Brantley due up.
Guardians 3, Tigers 2 Top 7, 2 OutsSep 3 3:18 PM - Jhonny Peralta single to left scored Delmon Young. On the play, Brennan Boesch advances to second. Runners on first and second with none out and Alex Avila due up.
Guardians 2, Tigers 2 Bot 4, 0 OutsSep 3 2:25 PM - Asdrubal Cabrera single to center scored Shin-Soo Choo. Runner on first with one out and Michael Brantley due up.
Guardians 2, Tigers 1 Top 3, 1 OutSep 3 1:56 PM - Delmon Young single to right scored Quintin Berry. On the play, Prince Fielder advances to second and Miguel Cabrera advances to third. Bases loaded with one out and Brennan Boesch due up.
Guardians 1, Tigers 1 Bot 1, 1 OutSep 3 1:28 PM - Michael Brantley advances to second. On the play, Jason Kipnis scored on Alex Avila passed ball. Runner on second with two outs and Russ Canzler at the plate.
Guardians 1, Tigers 0 Top 1, 2 OutsSep 3 1:17 PM - CLEVELAND: 0
DETROIT: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Sep 3 1:06 PM
Related News
- Breaking down the Tigers offensive projections for 2024 Dec 26
- A note from the front while awaiting news of anything resembling a baseball thing at all Dec 25
- Analysis of the ZiPS Projections for the 2024 Guardians Dec 24
- Copy of Happy Holidays From the CTC Team: Tell us your Guardians’ Christmas Wish Dec 24
- N&N: Padres ink Yuki Matsui for 5 years Dec 24
- Tigers sign RHP Shelby Miller to a one-year contract Dec 22
- Where Are They Now? - Your Favorite Forgotten Players From 2016 - 2023 Dec 22
- Friday Open Thread: Your Tigers Christmas wish Dec 22
- News and Notes: Is MLB's Hot Stove About to Burst Into Flame? Dec 22
- 75 Years and Counting: The story of the 1983 Cleveland Indians Dec 21
- News and Notes: Guardians ZiPS Projections Releasing Soon on FanGraphs Dec 21
- 75 Years and Counting: The Story of the 1982 Cleveland Indians Dec 20