Indians 5, Tigers 4
DETROIT -- Yan Gomes hit a tie-breaking sacrifice fly with one out in the sixth inning and added an RBI double in the eighth Saturday to spark the Cleveland Indians to a 5-4 victory over Detroit that spoiled the season debut of Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander.
Indians right-hander Carlos Carrasco (8-5) got hurt on a couple of fastballs but quickly adjusted and got key outs on off-speed stuff and pitches off the plate.
Carrasco lasted 5 2/3 innings, in which he gave up three runs on seven hits, but fanned eight and allowed only one walk.
Left-hander Mark Rzepczynski got the last out of the sixth and right-hander Brian Shaw yielded a solo home run to Detroit right fielder J.D. Martinez, his 11th, to center in the eighth.
Right-hander Cody Allen got the last four outs for his 14th save.
He got Martinez to ground into a game-ending double play with runners on first and third.
Verlander (0-1) gave up only three hits in five innings, with two walks and two strikeouts. He threw 87 pitches and was strong through the first four, spotting a fastball that reached 94 mph and mixing it with changeups, curves and sliders. Verlander had been out because of a sore right triceps.
Catcher Gomes greeted right-hander Al Alburquerque, Detroit's fourth reliever of the game, with a booming double off the wall in right center to score right fielder David Murphy, who had been hit by a pitch, to make it 5-3.
Left-hander Blaine Hardy began the sixth for the Tigers but could only get one of three southpaw hitters out. Left fielder Michael Brantley singled and scored on a one-out triple by Murphy, who scored the go-ahead run when Gomes greeted right-hander Alex Wilson with a sacrifice fly to left.
Cleveland put two walks around a single to load the bases with one out in the fifth as Verlander began to struggle with his command. Second baseman Jason Kipnis hit a sacrifice fly to left to cut the Indians' deficit to 3-2.
Shortstop Jose Iglesias was hit by a pitch in the fourth, stole his eighth base and scored when designated hitter Rajai Davis lined a double to left to put Detroit ahead, 3-1.
First baseman Carlos Santana of Cleveland pulled the Indians to within 2-1 when he led off the fourth with his seventh home run of the season.
First baseman Miguel Cabrera lined a 99 mph fastball for a single to right field one out after Davis had opened Detroit's first inning with a triple to left center, smoking a 97 mph fastball. The Tigers made it 2-0 in the third on a two-out single by left fielder Yoenis Cespedes plus an RBI double to deep center by Martinez.
NOTES: RHP C.C. Lee pitched just one game for Cleveland (Friday night) before the Indians optioned him back to the minors so they could activate veteran RHP Scott Atchison off the disabled list for Saturday's game in Detroit. ... If DH Victor Martinez felt good after a running test and batting practice Saturday, Detroit planned to send him to Pawtucket on Sunday to begin a four-game rehab stint with the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens. ... The Indians were 16-14 away from home entering play Saturday. ... Tigers RHP Bruce Rondon makes what is likely to be his final rehab appearance Sunday, and the club "probably will make a decision on him at that point," manager Brad Ausmus said. He could be recalled to Detroit or optioned to the minors.