Tigers 10, Indians 4
Miguel Cabrera homered and drove in three while Max Scherzer rebounded from one of the worst starts of his career with six strong innings as Detroit completed a three-game road sweep of Cleveland.
Scherzer (9-3) surrendered a career high-tying 10 runs over four-plus innings on Tuesday, but bounced back with his third victory over his last four starts on Sunday by allowing one run on six hits while fanning eight. Ian Kinsler had three hits and scored twice while J.D. Martinez and Nick Castellanos added consecutive two-run doubles during a seven-run fifth inning for the Tigers, who improved to 12-4 in Cleveland since the beginning of last season.
Michael Brantley finished with three hits and three RBIs while Asdrubal Cabrera added two hits and drove in a run for the Indians. Josh Tomlin (4-5) was charged with a career high-tying eight runs (five earned) on eight hits and two walks over four-plus innings as Cleveland was swept for the sixth time this season.
Cabrera staked Detroit to an early lead in the opening frame with a line-drive solo shot to right-center before he struck again in the third with a grounder up the middle to plate Kinsler. The Tigers broke it open in the fifth, sending 12 to the plate during an inning in which the first six batters reached base, including two by error.
Cabrera committed the first of the Indians’ miscues when it was ruled after replay that he was unable to catch Jason Kipnis’ throw from second on Miguel Cabrera’s RBI fielder’s choice grounder, and Victor Martinez reached on a fielding error by Michael Bourn in center moments later. J.D. Martinez and Castellanos followed with line drives to the warning track to close the book on Tomlin while Andrew Romine and Kinsler capped the frame with RBI singles.
GAME NOTEBOOK: J.D. Martinez extended his hitting streak to a career-high 12 games with his fifth-inning double and is batting .404 with six doubles, four homers and 13 RBIs during the run. … Miguel Cabrera went 2-for-4 and is hitting .336 with 33 homers and 109 RBIs in 119 career games against Cleveland. … Scherzer has won each of his last five decisions against the Indians.