Live Tigers blog: Tigers fall to Tribe in Cleveland
FINAL: INDIANS 7, TIGERS 3
Justin Verlander may have had the best day of his life yesterday after getting engaged to model Kate Upton, but he certainly wasn't glowing at the end of his five innings tonight, giving up seven earned runs and taking the loss in Cleveland as the Tigers five-game winning streak came to an end.
Verlander was tagged for three runs in the first inning, and just when it looked as though the Tigers had climbed back into the game thanks to an Ian Kinsler home run in the fifth inning that made it 4-2, Verlander gave up a 3-run bomb to Francisco Lindor in the bottom of the frame to essentially put the game out of reach.
Lindor went 3-for-4 on the night with three RBI and three runs scored.
Verlander's final line looked like this: 5 IP, 8 H, 7 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
Cody Allen was the pitcher for the Tribe in the ninth. He struck out Jose Iglesias and Ian Kinsler to leadoff the inning. J.D. Martinez notched a two-out single, but Miguel Cabrera struck out looking to end the game.
The Tigers scattered nine hits of Indians starter Josh Tomlin, who tallied five Ks while giving up just two runs.
Bottom 8th: Indians 7, Tigers 3
Blaine Hard was the new Tigers pitcher and he had himself a 1-2-3 inning.
Marlon Byrd flew out to right field, Jose Ramirez struck out and the pinch-hitting Rajai Davis flew out to left field to end the inning.
Last call for the Tigers bats. Due up: Iglesias, Kinsler, J.D. Martinez
Top 8th: Indians 7, Tigers 3
Nick Castellanos continues to do work at the plate, notching an RBI single off of Cleveland reliever Zach McAllister to cut the Tigers' deficit to 7-3 with one out in the eighth and two men still on base.
McAllister was promptly given the hook in favor of set up man Bryan Shaw. Facing James McCann, Shaw struck out the Tigers catcher with a nasty slider. Jarrod Saltalamacchia came on to pinch-hit for Anthony Gose, but he grounded out to kill the rally.
The inning started with Miguel Cabrera working a walk in a nine-pitch at-bat. Victor Martinez followed by lining out to right field. Justin Upton singled to center field, putting men on first and second base with one out and giving the Tigers slight hopes for a rally a boost.
Bottom 7th: Indians 7, Tigers 2
The seventh inning was a bit less stressful for Buck Farmer, but the Tigers needed it to be that way if they hope to claw their way back from the abyss tonight in Cleveland.
Michael Brantley grounded out, Mike Napoli struck out and Yan Gomes did the same as Farmer set the Tribe down in order.
Top 7th: Indians 7, Tigers 2
Jose Iglesias grounded out, Ian Kinsler did the same and J.D. Martinez struck out looking as Cleveland reliever Tommy Hunter had himself a breezy 1-2-3 inning.
Bottom 6th: Indians 7, Tigers 2
Buck Farmer was the new man on the hill for the Tigers after Justin Verlander gave up seven runs over five innings.
Tyler Naquin notched a one-out single, Carlos Santana walked and Jason Kipnis benefitted from a botched attempt by Nick Castellanos, who couldn't corral a ball he was charging.
With Francisco Lindor up with the bases loaded and the outlook bleak, Farmer didn't have to work very long as the young Cleveland shortstop swung at the first pitch he saw and grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Jose Ramirez flew out to left field to leadoff the inning.
Top 6th: Indians 7, Tigers 2
Just your run of the mill 1-2-3 inning for Josh Tomlin, who bounced back after a 28-pitch fifth inning to set the Tigers down in order.
Nick Castellanos flew out to left field, James McCann struck out looking and Anthony Gose went down swinging.
Tomlin is most likely done for the night having thrown 105 pitches. He's given up nine hits and fanned five.
Bottom 5th: Indians 7, Tigers 2
Well, that's not what the Tigers needed.
Carlos Santana walked, Jason Kipnis singled and Francisco Lindor hit a BOMB to right field as Cleveland jumped all over Justin Verlander in the bottom of the fifth to take a 7-2 lead.
Michael Brantley flew out for the first out of the inning after the damage had already been done. Mike Napoli followed that wit a walk, advancing to second after Yan Gomes grounded into a fielder's choice.
No doubt about it: Verlander was bad tonight. Really bad. Lindor did the most damage, going 3-for-3 with three RBI, three runs scored and a spectacular defensive play in the second inning.
Top 5th: Indians 4, Tigers 2
Anthony Gose got things going with a single through the right side of the infield and after Jose Iglesias flew out to left field, Ian Kinsler turned on a juicy pitch hanging breaking ball and crushed it over the left field wall to cut the Tigers deficit to 4-2.
Josh Tomlin had spread out the Tigers' first six hits, but he finally made a mistake and Kinsler made him pay.
That's what the Tigers can do to get back in games in a hurry. If Verlander has truly settled in and can give them two more innings like his last one, they'll have a shot to pull off the comeback.
Tomlin struck out J.D. Martinez for the second out of the inning. Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez both notched two-out singles, but Justin Upton flew out to left field to end the inning.
Bottom 4th: Indians 4, Tigers 0
Justin Verlander finally settled in and got his first 1-2-3 inning of the night.
Marlon Byrd flew out to left field, Jose Ramirez grounded out and Tyler Naquin struck out, becoming Verlander's second K of the night.
The Tigers could use two more innings, at the very least, like that from Verlander. His pitch count is at 73.
Top 4th: Indians 4, Tigers 0
Justin Upton stroked a single to left field with one out, but he got caught napping as Yan Gomes snapped a throw down to first base to catch Upton going back to the bag.
Nick Castellanos singled through the left side of the diamond with two outs, but James McCann couldn't pick him up, flying out to center field to end the inning.
Victor Martinez flew out to shallow right field to leadoff the inning.
Bottom 3rd: Indians 4, Tigers 0
Cleveland continues to put good swings on Justin Verlander and now they've padded their lead after Michael Brantley drove in Francisco Lindor from second base with a hard-hit single up the middle.
Lindor doubled off the right field wall with one out, just missing a home run.
Brantley moved up to second base on a ball in the dirt, but Verlander got Mike Napoli to ground out back to the mound and Yan Gomes to fly out to center to end the inning
Verlander's pitch count is now at 66 and it's hard to imagine him getting through more than five innings unless he can straighten himself out. Everything he's throwing is being hit hard right back at him.
Jason Kipnis flew out to left field to leadoff the inning.
Top 3rd: Indians 3, Tigers 0
With Jose Iglesias in scoring position at second base, the Tigers big bats couldn't get it done as J.D. Martinez struck out swinging at a high fastball and Miguel Cabrera flew out to right field to end the inning.
Iglesias beat the throw to the bag to leadoff the inning with an infield single up the middle of the diamond. Ian Kinsler drove one deep to center field and that allowed Iglesias to move up to second base.
Bottom 2nd: Indians 3, Tigers 0
Jose Ramirez singled sharply up the middle to start the inning, but Justin Verlander got a much-needed ground ball double play off the bat of Tyler Naquin.
Carlos Santana put a charge into a ball that was hit to deep centerfield, but Anthony Gose was able to make the play in front of the wall to get the Tigers out of the inning.
Verlander has thrown 48 pitches.
Top 2nd: Indians 3, Tigers 0
Francisco Lindor robbed Justin Upton of a base hit with a diving stop to his right to leadoff the inning. Nick Castellanos grounded out and James McCann, in his first at-bat since April 11th, was nicked by a pitch to give the Tigers a two-out baserunner.
Nothing came of it, though, as Anthony Gose struck out swinging to end the inning.
Bottom 1st: Indians 3, Tigers 0
Justin Verlander had himself a shaky first inning, struggling with his control and allowing hitters to square up on his pitches. He got to two outs unscathed, but Mike Napoli drilled a pitch over the head of Anthony Gose to score the runners and give Cleveland a 2-0 lead.
Yan Gomes then got a fat one down the middle and drilled it through the middle of the infield to score Napoli as the Indians put up three two-out runs.
Verlander eventually struck out Marlon Byrd to end the inning after a nine-pitch at-bat.
After notching the first out of the inning by getting Carolos Santana to pop out down the third baseline, Verlander walked Jason Kipnis and gave up a well-struck single to right field to Francisco Lindor.
With two men on, Michael Brantley worked the count and fouled off a few pitches from Verlander before squaring one up and smacking it to center field. Luckily, it was hit right to the glove of Gose.
Not a good start to this one for the newly-engaged Verlander. He threw 38 pitches in the inning and the swings Cleveland was putting on the ball were vicious.
Top 1st: Tigers 0, Indians 0
Victor Martinez came up to the dish with men on the corners and one out. He hit a fly ball to right field and J.D. Martinez got a good jump and appeared to slide around the tag to give the Tigers an early 1-0 lead.
Not so fast. Replays, which appeared inconclusive, showed the J.D.'s foot may have been hovering above the plate when the tag was applied. This, of course, ended the inning with the game scoreless.
Miguel Cabrera worked the count against Cleveland starter Josh Tomlin and ripped a ball into the left centerfield gap, moving J.D. from first to third and putting runners on the corners for one of the hottest hitters in baseball in Victor.
Ian Kinsler led off with a shot down the third baseline that Jose Ramriez couldn't handle and got the Tigers' leadoff man on base. J.D. Martinez swung at the first pitch he saw, however, and grounded into a fielder's choice.
TIGERS LINEUP
1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. J.D. Martinez, RF
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. Victor Martinez, DH
5. Justin Upton, LF
6. Nick Castellanos, 3B
7. James McCann, C
8. Anthony Gose, CF
9. Jose Iglesias, SS
Justin Verlander, P
INDIANS LINEUP
1. Carlos Santana, DH
2. Jason Kipnis, 2B
3. Francisco Lindor, SS
4. Michael Brantley, LF
5. Mike Napoli, 1B
6. Yan Gomes, C
7. Marlon Byrd, RF
8. Jose Ramirez, 3B
9. Tyler Naquin, CF
Josh Tomlin, P
TIGERS VS. INDIANS
When: Tuesday, 6:10 p.m.
Where: Progressive Field, Cleveland.
Pitching matchup: Justin Verlander (2-2, 5.46) vs. Josh Tomlin (3-0, 3.18).
Local TV: Fox Sports Detroit.
National TV: None.
Internet streaming: MLB.TV.
Local radio: 97.1 FM.
Satellite radio: SIRI Internet 849.