Detroit Tigers: Indians edge Tigers, 7-5

Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera may win the American League batting title, but Cleveland Indians left fielder Michael Brantley won Friday’s game with his two home runs.

Brantley hit a solo shot to break a tied game in the seventh, and with the game tied again in the eighth, he hit a two-run blast to lift the Indians over the Tigers, 7-5.

The Indians left fielder went 2-for-5 with his two home runs, three RBI and two runs. Brantley is hitting .319, which is second in the AL to Cabrera, but he has a 30 point lead in the batting title race.

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Detroit showed some life on Thursday, erasing two two-run deficits in the seventh and eighth only to see Brantley hit his bombs in the bottom of those frames.

Shortstop Andrew Romine shined for the Tigers on offense, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and run scored. Catcher James McCann also had a multi-hit game and scored two runs.

But as they have all season, Detroit made too many outs on the bases. In the second inning, center fielder Anthony Gose singled and tried to extend it into a double but was caught in a rundown. Romine, who was at third, tried to head home, however the Indians were able to tag out Gose and then gunned down Romine at the plate.

Gose made another out on the bases in the seventh when Cleveland threw him out at the plate. Little plays like that don’t show up in the box score, but they have cost the Tigers games all season long.

Speaking of box scores, right-hander Alfredo Simon had another ugly stat line. He pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on nine hits. He also had five strikeouts and three walks. Simon allowed Brantley’s first bomb and another home run to center fielder Abraham Almonte.

Left-hander Blaine Hardy yielded the second home run to Brantley and took the loss. He is 4-3 with a 2.81 ERA this season. Indians closer Cody Allen picked up the victory for the Tribe, pitching 1 2/3 innings and allowing one hit.

With the victory, the Indians are just 69-70, but they are four games behind the Texas Rangers for the second Wild Card spot. The Tigers fall to 64-76 on the season.

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