Indians 6, Tigers 3
DETROIT -- Jose Ramirez scored two runs and knocked in two more, and the Cleveland Indians overcame the injury loss of starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco to complete a three-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers 6-3 on Sunday at Comerica Park.
Carrasco suffered a left hamstring injury during the third inning as he raced over to cover first base on Andrew Romine's grounder. He crumpled to the dirt after getting the out and had to be helped off the field, unable to put any pressure on the leg.
Detroit's starting pitcher also had his day cut short by injury. Shane Greene (1-2) departed after issuing a leadoff walk to Francisco Lindor in the fourth with a blister on his middle finger.
Lindor had three hits and scored twice, while Marlon Byrd drove in two runs for Cleveland. Trevor Bauer (1-0) got the win in relief, allowing two runs on four hits in 3 2/3 innings and Cody Allen recorded his sixth save.
Nick Castellanos had a two-run single for the Tigers, who have lost four straight. Detroit has scored just five runs during the skid.
The Indians broke through against reliever Drew VerHagen immediately after Greene departed. Lindor scored on Ramirez's one-out double to center and Byrd brought home Ramirez with a single. Tyler Naquin's two-out triple to right-center made it 3-0.
Castellanos' two-out single in the bottom of the fourth cut Cleveland's lead to one. The Indians responded with a three-run fifth, which included RBI singles by Ramirez and Byrd off VerHagen and another by Juan Uribe off Matt Boyd.
Indians reliever Bryan Shaw got into trouble in the eighth, allowing an RBI double to Victor Martinez. Shaw issued two, two-out walks to load the bases, but Jeff Manship came in and retired pinch-hitter Miguel Cabrera on a foul popout.
NOTES: Detroit 1B Miguel Cabrera and LF Justin Upton were not in the starting lineup. Manager Brad Ausmus decided to give both struggling sluggers a break. Cabrera is batting. 210 with one home run, while Upton is hitting .217 and has struck out a major-league high 30 times. "Sometimes, I think it's best to give guys a breather when you think they need one, and I thought they both could use a day," Ausmus said. ... Tigers RHP Francisco Rodriguez was placed on the family medical emergency list for undisclosed personal reasons. Rodriguez, who has four saves, will remain on the list 3-7 days. RHP Mark Lowe and LHP Justin Wilson will share closing duties in his absence, Ausmus said. ... Indians LF Michael Brantley flew to Minnesota on Sunday after playing in consecutive Triple-A games with Columbus. Brantley, who underwent right shoulder surgery in November, could be activated from the 15-day disabled list as early as Monday.