Detroit Tigers sweep Cleveland Indians on second consecutive late inning homer

Sep 14, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Cleveland Indians center fielder

(24) watches as a ball hit by Detroit Tigers left fielder JD Martinez (not pictured) goes over the center field wall for a home run in the fourth inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Tigers completed a series sweep of the Cleveland Indians with a 6-4 win. Justin Verlander started for the Tigers and pitched five and two thirds innings,  giving up three runs on six hits and three walks, he struck out six. Verlander had a base runner in every inning he pitched today, and while he was improved, he was still not the pitcher many fans are hoping to see. Verlander exited the game with two runners on and two out in the sixth. Heretofore reliable lefty reliever Blaine Hardy came in, faced three batters, allowed both of Verlander’s runs to score and did not record an out. This gave the Indians a 3-1 lead. Evan Reed came in and finished the inning by getting Carlos Santana to ground out.

Phil Coke came in to pitch the seventh and gave up a hit to Tyler Holt, but did not allow a run to score.

Joba Chamberlain pitched a flawless eighth inning.

Joe Nathan came in with the save on the line and immediately gave up a sharply hit single to Michael Brantley followed by a run scoring double to Carlos Santana, then walked Jason Kipnis. After a long fought battle with Yan Gomes, Nathan finally induced the double play and Nathan was then able to get pinch hitter Jason Giambi to fly out to end the game and secure the save.

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The Detroit Tigers’ biggest surprise of the season, J.D. Martinez, continued to punish Indians pitching and hit a ball out of the park into the bushes in straight away center field in the fourth inning to put the Tigers on the board. Ian Kinsler also hit a home run, this one with Rajai Davis on second, to give the Tigers a 4-3 lead in the seventh inning. In the eighth inning, Davis scored from third base on a wild pitch, and Torii Hunter hit a ground ball that scored Eugenio Suarez, to give the Tigers a 6-3 lead that they would need to survive Joe Nathan’s half of the inning.

The Detroit Tigers begin a series in Minnesota tomorrow night at 8:10pm.