Napoli homer lifts Indians past Tigers
CLEVELAND -- Mike Napoli's two-run home run in the seventh inning broke a 3-3 tie and lifted the Cleveland Indians to a 5-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers Monday night at Progressive Field.
With the win, Cleveland is 10-0 vs. Detroit this season. The American League Central Division-leading Indians extended their lead over the second-place Tigers to 6 1/2 games. The loss snaps Detroit's six-game winning streak.
Reliever Jeff Manship (1-1) pitched 1 1/3 perfect innings to get the win and Cody Allen pitched the ninth to earn his 18th save.
With the score tied at 3, right-hander Bruce Rondon (2-1), the fourth Detroit pitcher of the game, came in to pitch the seventh inning. Rondon struck out Jason Kipnis to start the inning, but Francisco Lindor drew a walk.
Napoli then walloped an 0-1 pitch deep into the bleachers above the left-field wall for his 17th home run, a two-run blast that gave the Indians a 5-3 lead.
The Indians and starter Danny Salazar took a 3-1 lead into the sixth inning, but Salazar, who came into the game leading the American League with a 2.22 ERA, was unable to make it through the sixth.
Salazar retired the first two batters of the sixth, but Victor Martinez lined a single to right field. Nick Castellanos then belted a 1-1 pitch over the wall in left field for his 15th home run, a two-run blast that tied the game at 3.
Salazar gave up a walk and a single to the next two batters before Manship came in to get the third out. In 5 2/3 innings, Salazar gave up three runs and eight hits, with six strikeouts and one walk.
Cleveland's Mike Napoli hit the first pitch of the second inning to the wall in left-center field for a double. Carlos Santana followed with a single to center, scoring Napoli with the first run of the game. Jose Ramirez lined a double to left field, moving Santana to third.
However, with runners at second and third and no outs, the Indians were unable to score again. Tigers starter Daniel Norris struck out Yan Gomes and Juan Uribe, and Abraham Almonte grounded out to short to end the inning.
The Indians added a run in the third inning. Rajai Davis led off with a walk. Then, while pitching to Kipnis, Norris had to leave the game with a right oblique strain.
Dustin Molleken, recalled from Triple-A Toledo earlier in the day, relieved Norris, and Jason Kipnis greeted him with a double to right field, moving Davis to third. Davis scored on a sacrifice fly by Lindor, giving Cleveland a 2-0 lead.
Kipnis went to third on the sacrifice fly, but the Indians were unable to cash in that potential run.
Steven Moya led off the sixth inning with a booming home run into the right-field seats to cut the Tigers' deficit to 2-1.
The Indians got that run back in the fifth inning. Davis led off with a single and went to third on a single by Kipnis. Alex Wilson relieved Molleken, and Lindor hit his second sacrifice fly of the game, scoring Davis to extend the margin to 3-1.
NOTES: Continued fallout from their bullpen-busting, 19-inning game in Toronto on Friday saw the Indians on Monday designate for assignment two relievers, RHP Joba Chamberlain and LHP Tom Gorzelanny. To fill those spots in the relief corps, the Indians recalled RHP Mike Clevinger and LHP TJ House from Triple-A Columbus. ... The Indians have nine series sweeps this season, three of them coming against Detroit. ... Tigers RHP Jordan Zimmermann, who was scheduled to start Tuesday's game, was placed on the disabled list Monday due to a strained neck. RHP Anibal Sanchez will start Tuesday's game in place of Zimmermann. The Tigers filled Zimmermann's roster spot by recalling RHP Dustin Molleken from Triple-A Toledo. ... Tigers 1B Miguel Cabrera is four RBIs shy of 1,500 for his career.