Kluber pitches six strong innings, leads Indians past Tigers

Detroit, MI, United States (4E Sports) – Corey Kluber pitched six innings of two-run ball for his first career win, leading the Cleveland Indians to a 3-2 victory the Detroit Tigers Monday at Comerica Park.

Kluber (1-3), winless in his previous six starts, surrendered six hits and two earned runs with four strikeouts to help the Indians take the opener of a three-game series with the Tigers.

The loss has dropped the Tigers to second place in the American League Central, a day after tying the Chicago White Sox for the lead. They are now half-game behind the White Sox, who were scheduled to face the Minnesota Twins Monday night.

 

The Indians improved to 8-5 against the Tigers this season. Detroit is one of only two American League teams the Indians have winning record against this year, going 5-4 against the Los Angeles Angels.

Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera returned to the lineup after missing two days with a sore right wrist and knocked in two RBIs, including the go-ahead run in the 7th inning against reliever Darin Downs (1-1).

Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez threw six innings, allowing two runs on eight hits two strikeouts and a walk but Downs absorbed the loss after giving up the game-winning run to Cabrera.

Relievers Cody Allen and Esmil Rogers held the Tigers scoreless before Vinnie Pestano worked a perfect ninth for his second save in four opportunities.

The Indians scored first when second baseman Jason Kipnis crossed the plate after a passed ball by catcher Alex Avila.

The Tigers quickly responded in the bottom half of the frame after Delmon Young hit an RBI single with the bases loaded to tie the count at one.

The Indians took the lead in the third after Cabrera hit an RBI single that brought Shin-Soo Choo home before the Tigers battled back in the fourth to tie the game behind Jhonny Peralta’s single.

In the seventh, the Indians loaded the bases with singles by Kipnis and Lou Marson and a walk drawn by Choo before Cabrera to knock in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly to center.

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