Detroit, MI – Justin Masterson pitched six strong innings as the Cleveland Indians took a 3-2 win over the Detroit Tigers in the second of three from Comerica Park.
Masterson (11-12) gave up two runs on four hits with a walk and four strikeouts for the Indians, who have taken the first two of this set and are poised for their first three-game sweep since June 18-20 against Cincinnati.
"Another well-pitched game and that's the key against a good team like the Tigers," said Cleveland manager Manny Acta about Masterson. "I thought he threw the ball extremely well and did a fantastic job."
Asdrubal Cabrera, Michael Brantley and Jack Hannahan all drove in a run in the win.
Miguel Cabrera's two-run home run accounted for the offense for the Tigers, who came into this set having swept the White Sox and sitting in first place in the AL Central.
Detroit remained one game back of Chicago for first place in the AL Central, as the White Sox were downed by the Twins, 18-9, on Tuesday.
Rick Porcello (9-11) lost his fifth straight start as he gave up three runs on eight hits with a pair of walks and strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings.
"We obviously have come up short the past two days and this time of year we have to play better than that," said Porcello. "We need to win games and series against division opponents if we want to be in the playoffs."
Cleveland struck for a pair of runs in the second inning. Carlos Santana led off the frame with a single and came home when Brantley followed with a double to left. Brantley later moved to third on a Casey Kotchman groundout and scored when Hannahan singled to center.
In the third, the Indians made it 3-0 game. Shin-Soo Choo doubled to start the inning, but Jason Kipnis lined out. Cabrera, though, smoked a shot down the first base line that the ball boy touched near the stands along the right field foul line. Cabrera was given a double and Choo came home to score.
Alex Avila led off the Detroit third with a double and moved to third on an Omar Infante groundout, but he was stranded there as Austin Jackson and Andy Dirks both lined out to end the frame.
The Tigers finally got on board in the sixth. Jackson walked with one out, but he was forced out at second on an Andy Dirks grounder. Cabrera, though, slammed a pitch over the wall in left for his 34th home run of the year to make it a 3-2 game.
Detroit left two on base in the seventh when Infante grounded into a fielder's choice with two outs and the Tigers were retired in order in the eighth by Vinnie Pestano.
Chris Perez set Detroit down 1-2-3 in the ninth for his 34th save of the season.
Game Notes
Detroit pitchers posted eight strikeouts in the game and are at 1,104 for the season, just 11 shy of the team record set in 1968 and 2011...Cleveland has taken nine of the 14 games with Detroit this season...Cabrera has 113 RBI on the season, just one behind Texas' Josh Hamilton for tops in the majors.
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