Final
Verlander tries to stretch Tigers' lead in Cleveland
Aug 6, 2013 - 2:41 PM (Sports Network) - Right-handed ace Justin Verlander makes his 34th career start against the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night when the Detroit Tigers visit their closest pursuers in the American League's Central Division at Progressive Field.The Tigers began the four-game series with a win - and stretched their first- place lead to four games - when Alex Avila clubbed the go-ahead three-run homer off Chris Perez in the ninth inning.
Cleveland, which entered with an 11-game home winning streak, suffered its second loss in 12 overall contests while the Tigers won their ninth straight after a perfect 8-0 homestand.
Corey Kluber pitched into the eighth inning, and the Indians got early runs on hits from Jason Giambi and Carlos Santana, but Perez (4-2) suffered his third blown save of the season and first since May 18 versus Seattle.
Detroit won nine of the initial 12 games between the teams in 2013, including three of four in a series at Cleveland between July 5 and July 8.
Verlander, a 17-game winner last season in 33 starts, picked up his 11th win this year on July 31 he toppled Washington, 11-1, with six innings of four-hit ball and six strikeouts.
The win ended a two-start skid in which the former first-round draft pick was shelled for 13 runs in 11 2/3 innings on the road at Kansas City and the Chicago White Sox.
He is 16-14 in 33 previous meetings with the Indians while posting a 4.65 earned run average in 209 innings, while allowing an opposition batting average of .237.
Verlander is 6-4 on the road this season and 8-10 in 19 career starts at Progressive Field.
For the Indians, righty Justin Masterson will try to eliminate the remnants of his last meeting with Detroit on July 5.
In that game, also at Progressive Field, Masterson was shelled for six runs on seven hits in just 4 2/3 innings while dropping a 7-0 decision.
The loss lowered him to 2-8 against Detroit in 16 career meetings, during which he's posted a 5.50 ERA in 75 1/3 innings.
Masterson is 3-0 in four starts since the defeat, however, and has given up just four runs in his last 28 innings of work.
- DETROIT: 5
CLEVELAND: 1
Final
Aug 6 9:40 PM - Don Kelly two-out, three-run Home Run (5) to right scored Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez. Alex Avila due up.
Tigers 5, Guardians 1 Top 5, 2 OutsAug 6 8:28 PM - Miguel Cabrera double to center scored Torii Hunter with one out. Runner on second and Prince Fielder due up.
Tigers 2, Guardians 1 Top 5, 1 OutAug 6 8:23 PM - Torii Hunter grounded into a fielder's choice, short to second scoring Ramon Santiago with one out. On the play, Austin Jackson out at second. Runner on first with one out and Miguel Cabrera due up.
Tigers 1, Guardians 1 Top 5, 1 OutAug 6 8:23 PM - Ryan Raburn grounded out second to first scoring Michael Brantley with two out. On the play, Carlos Santana advances to third. Runner on third and Lonnie Chisenhall due up.
Tigers 0, Guardians 1 Bot 2, 2 OutsAug 6 7:45 PM - DETROIT: 0
CLEVELAND: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Aug 6 7:07 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