Detroit Tigers Defeat Cleveland Indians Once Again

May 31, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher David Price (14) is greeted after he is relieved during the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Tigers defeated the Cleveland Indians 7-3 in the second game of their three game series. One strike call that went the Tigers’ way in the fifth inning completely changed the outlook of the game as Indians’ starter Danny Salazar became rattled and fell apart.

David Price and Danny Salazar got the starts for their respective teams, and Price won the battle. Salazar imploded after he did not get a strike call in the top of the fifth. He then committed an error and allowed 7 runs (6 earned) on 6 hits, 3 walks and 8 strikeouts. Price was up and down, but lasted 6.2 IP with 9 hits, 1 earned run, with no walks and 7 strikeouts.

The Tigers got on the board first in this one in the top of the third. Andrew Romine hit his second home run of the season into the first row in the right field stands on the first pitch of the third inning, giving the Tigers the 1-0 lead.

The Indians struck back in the bottom of the third. Roberto Perez doubled down the right field line. Jason Kipnis should have struck out looking, but was given an extra strike and had an infield base hit about 20 feet in front of home plate to move Perez to third. Francisco Lindor then hit a sacrifice fly to right field that Rajai Davis did not get behind, allowing Perez to score from third, tying the game at 1-1.

The Tigers caught some breaks and made the most of it in the top of the 5^th. Romine got everything started again with a double to left field. Rajai Davis and Ian Kinsler walked. Kinsler’s at bat had a call that went the Tigers’ way, which led to the Indians’ pitching coach, Micky Callaway, to get ejected. Salazar and Terry Francona both argued as well, but were allowed to stay in the game.

Miguel Cabrera then hit a ball just to the right of the pitcher’s mound with the bases loaded and one out. It would have been an inning ending double play, but Salazar dropped the ball, allowing Romine to score and Cabrera to reach safely. Then, the flood gates opened.

Victor Martinez blooped a single into left field, moving everyone up 90 feet which gave the Tigers the 3-1 lead. Yoenis Cespedes then knocked out Salazar with a sharp single, scoring Kinsler and Cabrera, giving the Tigers the 5-1 lead. Nick Castellanos then greeted Zach McAllister with a first pitch double down the right field line into the corner which scored Victor and Cespedes, extending the lead to 7-1. James McCann and Romine were then retired to end the inning, but the damage was done.

The Indians got a run back in the 9^th, but it was too little, too late. David Murphy and Brandon Moss singled to start the inning. Giovanny Urshela then hit a ball to third base which could have been a game ending triple play, but Castellanos dropped the ball to allow everyone to move up. Castellanos then got the next ground ball down to second to start a double play that scored Murphy. Jason Kipnis then hit a deep double to center field to score Moss and cut the Tigers’ lead to 7-3 where it would stay.

These two teams will finish their series on Wednesday at 12:10. Justin Verlander is scheduled to get the start for the Tigers, but Buck Farmer was scratched from his start in Toledo tonight and will join the team on Wednesday. No announcement has been made at the time of this writing, but something may change. Whoever starts for the Tigers will oppose Carlos Carrasco (8-6, 4.35 ERA), who went 5.2 innings of 3 earned run ball against the Tigers on June 13.