Detroit, MI – Asdrubal Cabrera went 3-for-5 and drove in two runs as the Cleveland Indians knotted their three-game set with the Detroit Tigers with a 7-6 win at Comerica Park.
Michael Bourn and Jason Kipnis each scored twice while Jason Giambi provided two RBI, neither of which came on a base hit.
Ubaldo Jimenez (3-2) was terrific for the third straight outing, yielding just one run on three hits while striking out eight over six innings of work. Chris Perez allowed a run on a Torii Hunter single in the ninth but got Miguel Cabrera on a groundout to third to retire the side and pick up his sixth save.
"The key was I was able to mix my fastball and then mix my breaking ball," Jimenez said of his success. "I think they were sitting a little bit on my breaking ball and then we pitched them backwards."
Omar Infante had two hits and two RBI to pace Detroit, which has lost three of four. Justin Verlander (4-3) lasted just five innings for the second time this season and was tagged with four runs -- three earned -- while walking a season-high five Indians.
"They're just professional hitters," Verlander said of the Indians."You make your pitches and most of the time you get guys out, but when you get professional hitters like that, you have to make your pitches. They're not going to give in and make an easy out for you. They're going to battle you."
Cleveland tacked on one run apiece in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings on RBI singles by Mark Reynolds, Cabrera and pinch-hitter Mike Aviles. The Tribe was up 6-1 heading into the home seventh before the Tigers awoke.
Nick Hagadone took over pitching duties for Cleveland but was pulled before he could record an out. He gave up a double to Victor Martinez, walked pinch- hitter Matt Tuiasosopo then walked Peralta on nine pitches to load the bases.
Cody Allen entered and allowed all three of his inherited runners to score. Brayan Pena clubbed a pinch-hit sacrifice fly to plate Martinez and Infante followed with a two-run triple to right center. Infante then scored on an RBI groundout from Austin Jackson and when Torii Hunter finally grounded out to end the inning, Detroit had cut its deficit to 6-5.
Giambi provided Cleveland's bullpen with an insurance run, which would prove to be vital, on a sac fly to center in the top of the eighth.
Perez struck out Jhonny Peralta to start the final frame but Pena reached on a Nick Swisher error. Hunter's single two batters later made it a one-run game, but Cabrera failed to deliver with two on and two out -- grounding harmlessly to third.
Cleveland tacked on a pair of runs in the first inning. With two on and one down, Swisher doubled in Michael Bourn, who singled to lead off the game. Giambi then drew a bases-loaded walk two batters later to force in Cabrera.
One inning later, Cabrera's RBI double to deep right put the Tribe up 3-0.
Peralta led off the bottom of the third with a home run to left center to put Detroit on the board.
Game Notes
Cleveland left 13 men on base ... Peralta is on a 10-game hitting streak ... Detroit had won six of seven at home entering play ... The Tigers hit 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.