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Tigers target sweep of Tribe

Sep 16, 2012 - 2:38 PM (Sports Network) - Rick Porcello tries to end a month-long skid when the Detroit Tigers go for a three-game sweep of the Cleveland Indians on Sunday at Progressive Field.

Porcello has dropped his last six starts and hasn't won since Aug. 7 against the New York Yankees. The right-hander hasn't received much run support, as the Tigers have scored just 10 runs during his slide. Porcello is 5-3 with a 4.11 ERA in 14 games against the Indians.

Ubaldo Jimenez also doesn't have a victory over his last six appearances, going 0-5 in that stretch with his last triumph coming Aug. 9 versus Boston. Jimenez is 4-7 with a 5.22 ERA in 12 games against the Tigers.

On Saturday, Anibal Sanchez took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and the Tigers won, 5-3.

Detroit still sits one game back of Chicago for the top spot in the AL Central as the White Sox also won on Saturday, a 5-3 triumph over Minnesota.

Sanchez (3-5) was seven outs away from the second no-hitter of his career after retiring the first two batters in the seventh. Carlos Santana, though, broke up the no-hit bid with a triple off the wall in center. Russ Canzler's RBI double to center field and Lonnie Chisenhall's run-scoring single up the middle chased Sanchez from the game.

"I started watching the scoreboard," Sanchez said of his no-hit bid. "I had a chance. Everything was working good today."

Sanchez struck out seven and did not issue a walk for the Tigers, who have won four in a row.

Alex Avila paced Detroit's offense with a 3-for-4 performance and two RBI. Miguel Cabrera added a solo homer and Austin Jackson drove in a run.

Cleveland starter Justin Masterson (11-14) allowed four runs -- two earned -- on six hits over 4 2/3 innings. He fanned eight and walked four.

"It's been a trying season, it's been tough," Masterson said. "I haven't done the job I'm supposed to do. That's what's gotten us to where we're at."

Cleveland leads the season series, 9-8.