Tigers 5, Indians 1
Don Kelly homered to highlight a five-run fifth inning and Justin Verlander threw eight sensational innings as visiting Detroit posted its 10th consecutive victory.
Verlander (12-8) limited the Indians to a run on four hits while fanning seven, helping the Tigers extend their longest winning streak since September 2011. The victory moved Detroit five games ahead of Cleveland atop the American League Central.
Justin Masterson (13-8) continued to struggle against Detroit, surrendering five runs on seven hits over seven innings. The veteran right-hander fell to 2-9 in 17 career appearances versus the Tigers.
After Masterson escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the second inning, the Indians rewarded him with the lead in the bottom half. Asdrubal Cabrera stroked a leadoff double to right, advanced on Michael Brantley's single and scored two batters later on Ryan Raburn's groundout.
Torii Hunter's run-scoring groundout tied the game, Miguel Cabrera followed with an RBI double off the top of the center-field wall and Kelly landed the big blow three batters later with a blast over the right-field fence. Verlander took care of the rest, stranding two runners in scoring position in the sixth by striking out Jason Kipnis and getting Cabrera to ground out to second.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Detroit has won 11 of 14 meetings so far in 2013. ... Tigers 3B Cabrera reached 100 RBIs for the 10th consecutive season, joining Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Alex Rodriguez, Al Simmons and Albert Pujols as the only players to achieve the feat. ... Verlander didn't issue a walk for the first time this season.