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Bauer aims to silence Tigers

Jun 22, 2015 - 12:17 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Trevor Bauer tries to follow up a terrific showing in his last start on Monday when the Cleveland Indians open a three-game series with the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field.

Bauer was masterful against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, as he scattered four hits and struck out seven over seven scoreless innings to improve to 6-3, while lowering his ERA to 3.22.

Bauer has faced the Tigers five times and is 2-0 with a 4.34 ERA.

Cleveland salvaged the finale of its three-game set with the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday, as David Murphy's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the Indians to a 1-0 win.

The Indians mustered just one hit over the first eight innings before breaking through with a pair of singles to open the ninth. Cody Anderson fired 7 2/3 shutout innings in his MLB debut for Cleveland, scattering six hits, walking one and striking out four.

"He really pitched well," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "Everything from poise to the way he competed ... he did a hell of a job."

Cody Allen (1-2) tossed a scoreless ninth to notch the win.

Detroit, meanwhile, also avoided a sweep in its three-game series with the New York Yankees on Sunday, as J.D. Martinez homered three times and knocked in six runs in a career day that carried the Tigers to a 12-4 win.

After witnessing the Yankees slug eight homers in taking the first two tests of set, the Tigers showed some muscle of their own by going deep five times in the finale. Victor Martinez and Andrew Romine also homered for the visitors, with the former collecting four RBI on a 3-for-6 performance at the plate.

"When Victor hit that ball in the first inning, it kind of relieved the pressure on a lot of guys," J.D. Martinez remarked.

The outburst halted the Tigers' four-game skid and overshadowed another solid start in June for Anibal Sanchez (6-7), who allowed three runs and seven hits through seven innings to win a third consecutive assignment.

Getting the call for the Tigers on Monday will be lefty Kyle Ryan, who is 1-1 with a 3.26 ERA. Ryan lost to Cincinnati on Tuesday, as he allowed four runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings.

He has never faced the Indians.

Detroit is 7-2 versus the Tribe this season. A big reason for that has been the play of Miguel Cabrera, who is 22-for-34 (.647) with five homers, 15 RBI and a 1.147 slugging percentage against the Indians this season.. He has also reached base in 26 straight games at Progressive Field, batting .463 with 12 homers, 10 doubles and 35 RBI.