Guardians 4 - 5 Tigers
Final
  for this game

Avila's homer lifts Tigers over Indians

Sep 14, 2014 - 5:45 AM Detroit, MI (SportsNetwork.com) - Alex Avila hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth to lift the Detroit Tigers over the Cleveland Indians, 5-4, on Saturday.

Victor Martinez smacked a solo homer for the Tigers, who remained a half-game ahead of the Royals for first in AL Central. Kansas City beat the Red Sox on Saturday.

Kyle Lobstein got the start for Detroit and gave up four runs on six hits over five innings. Joba Chamberlain (2-5) tossed a scoreless eighth to pick up the win.

Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer for the Indians, who have lost the first two contests of this three-game set. Mike Aviles drove in two runs.

Cleveland starter Danny Salazar allowed three runs on six hits with seven strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings. Bryan Shaw (5-4) gave up the homer to Avila.

"A loss like this is obviously tough, but losing one game isn't going to make the difference," said Shaw.

Detroit right fielder Torii Hunter prevented the Indians from tacking on two insurance runs in the top of the eighth. With two outs, Brantley singled to left and Carlos Santana reached on an infield single. Following a double steal, Hunter made a diving catch of Yan Gomes' short fly ball.

Shaw walked Miguel Cabrera in the bottom half of the frame. Ezequiel Carrera came on as a pinch-runner and crossed the plate on Avila's two-out blast to right.

"It was an excellent at-bat by Alex," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "He got ahold of one right in the sweet spot."

Joe Nathan stranded a runner on second in the ninth to pick up his 31st save of the season.

The Indians jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first. Michael Bourn led off with a double to right-center field and crossed the plate on Brantley's blast to right.

Detroit tied things up in the third. Andrew Romine reached on a fielder's choice, moved to third on Rajai Davis' single and raced home on Ian Kinsler's single to center. Hunter followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 2-2.

The Tigers took a 3-2 lead on Martinez's solo homer in the fourth.

But the Indians went back in front with a two-run fifth. Lonnie Chisenhall and Jesus Aguilar, who hit one-out singles, scored on Aviles' double to right.

Detroit left men on second and third in the bottom half.

Game Notes

Detroit is 10-8 against Cleveland this season ... Indians outfielder Ryan Raburn left the game in the fourth inning with a hyperextended left knee ... Shaw blew his sixth save.






Related News