Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Miguel Cabrera homered early and the Detroit
Tigers kept pace with the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central with a 7-1 win
over the Cleveland Indians.
Miguel Cabrera crushed his 35th home run to help the Tigers avoid a three-game
sweep and remain a game behind the White Sox, who beat the Minnesota Twins,
6-2, on Wednesday afternoon.
Doug Fister (8-8) gave up one run on four hits and one walk with six
strikeouts in seven innings to earn the win.
Ubaldo Jimenez (9-15), who had a 7.79 earned run average in 10 starts since
the All-Star break, took the loss after giving up four runs on six hits in 7
1/3 innings.
Cabrera spotted the Tigers a pair of runs in the first inning. Austin Jackson
led off with a base hit and, after Andy Dirks grounded out, Cabrera hammered a
1-2 fastball over the right-field fence to make the score 2-0.
The Indians trimmed the Tigers' lead in the fourth inning. Jason Kipnis
delivered a leadoff single. After Asdrubal Cabrera flew out, Carlos Santana
and Michael Brantley delivered back-to-back base hits to score Kipnis.
The Tigers were only able to put one runner in scoring position until the
eighth inning, when they struck for five runs.
Jimenez, who came into the game second in the AL with 84 walks, issued his
first walk to Jackson with one out. Dirks laced a triple into the right-
field corner to score Jackson and end Jimenez's night.
Miguel Cabrera plated Dirks with a fly out to right field before Prince
Fielder slammed a 2-0 slider over the left-field wall. Delmon Young and
Avisail Garcia followed with singles and Jhonny Peralta scored them with a
double down the left-field line to give Detroit a six-run advantage.
After Fister escaped the fourth, the Indians were unable to put another runner
in scoring position. Joaquin Benoit and Jose Valverde each tossed a scoreless
inning of relief to secure the victory for Detroit.
Game Notes
Jimenez lost his fourth straight decision and fell to 1-8 since the All-Star
break ... Miguel Cabrera is hitting .336 with 22 home runs and 75 RBI in 85
games against Cleveland since 2008. He is hitting .350 with 28 home runs and
94 RBI in his last 105 games ... Fister is 6-2 with a 2.48 ERA since the All-
Star break, including an injury shortened outing in which he gave up seven
runs in 3 2/3 innings. He has recorded a quality start in his last seven
starts against Cleveland ... Detroit went 2-for-4 with runners in scoring
position and stranded four ... Cleveland went 1-for-3 with runners in scoring
position and left three on base.
The Sports Network