Tigers 8, Indians 6
Victor Martinez capped a big series with a grand slam in the seventh inning as the Detroit Tigers came from behind to earn an 8-6 victory on Wednesday and complete a three-game sweep of the host Cleveland Indians.
Justin Verlander picked up his major league-leading 22nd win and 10th in as many starts for the Tigers, who have won six straight and increased their lead to nine games over Chicago and 9 1/2 over Cleveland in the American League Central.
Martinez, whose three-run homer made the difference in Monday’s win, took a first-pitch fastball down and in from lefthander Tony Sipp and blasted it into the seats in left field to give Detroit a 7-4 lead and put an exclamation point on a five-run rally.
Verlander (22-5) yielded only three hits but two of them went for two-run homers by Shelley Duncan. The Cy Young candidate struck out eight and was charged with four runs in six innings.
Jose Valverde earned his 42nd save in as many opportunities.
Justin Masterson (11-9) started for Cleveland and held the Tigers largely in check until the seventh, when two singles and an error loaded the bases. Joe Smith came on and yielded an RBI single to Miguel Cabrera before Sipp was summoned to face Martinez.