Detroit, MI – Prince Fielder drove in three runs and Rick Porcello tossed six stellar innings as the Detroit Tigers downed the slumping Cleveland Indians, 6-4, in the second of a three-game set at Comerica Park.
Andy Dirks added two hits and two RBI, while Fielder drove in all three of his runs with a double as part of a four-run second inning. Detroit has won three straight.
Porcello (3-3) allowed just three hits and two runs -- one earned -- and two walks while fanning seven to earn the win.
"Every game is huge, no matter if it's in June or April or September," Porcello said. "They're all big. You play these guys (Cleveland) however many times a year and you want to beat them every time and create some separation."
Cleveland, which has dropped six straight overall and 10 consecutive games on the road, was paced by Ryan Raburn, who smacked a two-run homer in the seventh and finished with three runs batted in.
Carlos Carrasco (0-2), who was recalled from Triple-A Columbus prior to the game to make his second start of the season, was roughed up for all six runs on 10 hits and three walks over four-plus innings.
"We're competing, the results just aren't there right now," Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. "We're playing from behind a lot. That's a hard way to play, but if you're going to do it, you have to keep fighting."
Cleveland jumped on the board in the first thanks to Michael Bourn leading off the contest with a double. Jason Kipnis then brought him home with an RBI single.
Carrasco escaped a one-out bases loaded jam in the bottom half of the first, but it was a reoccurring theme for the right-hander, as Detroit pounded the righty over its next two at-bats.
In the second, Dirks' RBI single with two outs tied the game. Carrasco again loaded the bases after allowing a Torii Hunter single and walking Miguel Cabrera. Fielder made him pay, launching the right-hander's breaking ball offering into the gap in right-center, clearing the bases to give the hosts a 4-1 lead.
In the third, Carrasco allowed the first three batters to reach via two singles and a walk to load the bases. Avisail Garcia helped him out by grounding into a double play, scoring one run, though Dirks came through again with a run-scoring single to make it 6-1.
Cleveland added another run in the fifth on Raburn's RBI groundout and threatened again in the seventh versus Detroit reliever Luke Putkonen. Yan Gomes reached with one out on Jhonny Peralta's error at short, then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Raburn followed with a shot to left-center, bringing the Tribe within 6-4.
Jose Valverde made things interesting in the ninth by allowing a out-out single and a walk to put runners on first and second. He made up for it by fanning Raburn and Mike Aviles to earn his eighth save of the season and secure the victory.
Game Notes
Cleveland placed pitcher Zach McAllister on the 15-day disabled list prior to the game and filled the roster spot with Carrasco ... Detroit is 21-10 at home this season ... The Indians pushed back the scheduled start of Justin Masterson to Sunday ... Francona was ejected at the start of the eighth inning for arguing balls and strikes ... Indians first baseman Nick Swisher is in a 1-for-32 slump in which he's gone hitless in his last 24 at-bats.
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