Detroit 7 at Cleveland 6 - Recap

CLEVELAND -- Miguel Cabrera hit a three-run home run and Daniel Norris pitched six shutout innings while allowing just two hits as the Detroit Tigers beat the slumping Cleveland Indians 7-6 Friday night at Progressive Field.

Alex Avila also homered for the Tigers. The defending American League champion Indians have lost six of their last seven games and were outscored 41-20 in that span.

Norris (1-0) dominated Indians hitters. He threw 101 pitches, striking out five and walking four.

Leading 4-0, the Tigers made it 6-0 in the sixth inning on a two-run home run by Avila that sent Trevor Bauer (0-2) to the showers. In five innings Bauer gave up six runs on eight hits.

Trailing 7-1, going into the bottom of the ninth the Indians scored five runs, four coming on a grand slam by pinch hitter Lonnie Chisenhall off reliever Francisco Rodriguez, who then struck out Austin Jackson to end the game. Rodriguez picked up his fourth save.

In the first inning, Bauer's first pitch sailed up and inside on Cabrera, who immediately stared into the Cleveland dugout and appeared to shout something, perhaps remembering Bauer's last start against Detroit on Sept. 18 when he hit three Tigers in five innings.

Cabrera eventually drew a walk. After the third out of the inning, Cabrera again engaged in some animated yelling toward the Indians' dugout. Home plate umpire Clint Fagan issued warnings to both benches.

Detroit took a 1-0 lead in the second, which began with a single by Justin Upton. Bauer retired the next two batters, but Jacoby Jones singled to right, moving Upton to third. Jose Iglesias then tapped a roller into the hole between third and short. Shortstop Francisco Lindor fielded it but had no play. Upton scored on the infield single, giving Detroit a 1-0 lead.

The Tigers scored again in the fifth. Iglesias led off with a double down the left field line. Ian Kinsler singled Iglesias to third. Bauer struck out Nick Castellanos, but Cabrera blasted a 1-1 pitch over the right field wall for a three-run homer, extending the Detroit lead to 4-0.

NOTES: The Indians recalled RHP Nick Goody from Triple-A Columbus and optioned RHP Shawn Armstrong to Columbus. . . Indians 2B Jason Kipnis will resume his rehab assignment Saturday with Triple-A Columbus. Kipnis (right shoulder inflammation) missed a couple days after getting hit on the hand with a pitch. . . The Tigers purchased the contract of RHP William Cuevas from Triple-A Toledo and optioned RHP Joe Jimenez to Toledo. . . On Saturday Tigers RHP Justin Verlander will make his 49th career start vs. Cleveland, his most starts against any team in the majors. Verlander's career record against the Indians is 19-21, the most losses he has against any team.