Tigers 4, Indians 2
J.D. Martinez smacked a three-run homer in the top of the ninth inning to lift visiting Detroit past Cleveland for the second consecutive day.
Torii Hunter drew a leadoff walk against Cody Allen (5-4) and Miguel Cabrera followed with a single to center to start the uprising. Victor Martinez flew out to center before J.D. Martinez hit a blast over the center-field fence to keep the Tigers a half-game back of Kansas City in the American League Central.
Carlos Santana hit a two-run homer for Cleveland, which remained 5 1/2 games off the pace in the Central and five games behind in the wild-card race. Michael Brantley sliced a two-out single in the ninth against Detroit’s Joe Nathan, who retired Santana on a fly to left-center to record his 29th save.
Cleveland’s Carlos Carrasco struck out a career-best 10 and gave up only one run in 5 1/3 innings despite allowing 10 hits. Detroit starter Kyle Lobstein also struck out a career-best 10 in his second major-league start and gave up two runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings while Phil Coke (3-2) picked up the victory with 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.
Brantley singled with out in the Cleveland first and Santana followed with an opposite-field blast to right. Detroit loaded the bases on three singles in the second inning before Alex Avila drew a bases-loaded walk against Carrasco.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Cabrera, J.D. Martinez, Victor Martinez and CF Rajai Davis each had three hits and the Tigers finished with 15. … Cleveland INF Mike Aviles (whiplash) was out of the lineup after being injured during Monday’s series opener. … Avila departed the game after taking a foul ball into his catcher's mask.