Cleveland Indians labour to one run victory over Detroit Tigers 5-4 – MLB Update
Three lead-off runs in the eighth inning of the game guided the Cleveland Indians to their 13th straight home win with a 5-4 victory over the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field on Sunday.
Indians are currently 19-8 this season which is baseball’s best record. They have already completed five clean sweeps in this short time which is one more than the total number of sweeps they did last year.
"I don't think anybody could see this coming," closer Chris Perez said off the Indians’ progress this season. "Everything is coming together. The starting pitchers are keeping us in there, the bullpen is doing the job. Two outs, none on? The offense will
do something. This is a lot of fun."
Indians’ starter Justin Masterson had another masterful outing on Sunday. He had an average start of the game, giving away two runs in the very first inning. However, he recovered well and gave only one run in his remaining six innings.
Masterson allowed seven hits and two walks in seven innings, gave three runs and struck-out seven batters.
Rafael Perez allowed an RBI single in the eighth inning to put opponents in a winning position but was lucky to avoid a loss due to an impressive recovery by the Indians’ batters in the bottom of the same inning. Chris Perez threw the crucial ninth inning
which he went for a run.
It was a disappointing game for the Tigers’ starter, Phil Coke who was unable to earn a win despite his “two run” six innings. He looked far better than his counterpart, Masterson giving away only four hits in his six innings that cost him only two runs.
Joaquin Benoit spoiled the Tigers’ day with three runs in the eighth inning and was penalised with a loss.
Scoring Summary:
1st inning:
Will Rhymes opens the scoring for the Tigers as he ran to the plate on Don Kelly’s double. Kelly scored on a passed ball by Carlos Santana, as the Tigers were 2-0 up after the first inning.
2nd inning:
Matt LaPorta hit the game tying double to the deep right-field to bring Orlando Cabrera and Michael Brantley at home plate.
8th inning:
Tigers’ Alex Avila hit lead-off sacrifice fly to the centre-field, Kelly completed his run. Shin-Soo Choo scored the game-tying run for the Indians on Cabrera’s single to shallow left-field, as Shelley Duncan reached to second base.
Duncan scored while Cabrera advanced to third base on Brantley’s single to the left-centre field.
LaPorta hit a sacrifice fly to the left-field to help Cabrera complete his run for a two run lead for the Indians at the end of eighth inning.
9th inning:
Cabrera singled to the left centre-field, as Austin Jackson scored.
Final Score: Cleveland Indians 5-4 Detroit Tigers
Tags: