Tigers 4, Indians 2
CLEVELAND -- Alex Avila's three-run home run capped a four-run Detroit ninth inning as the Tigers rallied for a 4-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians Monday night.
With the Indians leading 2-0, closer Chris Perez failed to retire any of the four batters he faced in the ninth inning, giving up all four runs in his third blown save of the season.
Detroit has won nine games in a row and extended its lead to four games over second-place Cleveland in the Central Division race.
The Indians got to within three outs of their major-league-leading 16th shutout of the season, but Perez gave up a double to Prince Fielder leading off the ninth inning.
Victor Martinez followed with a single to left, scoring Fielder and cutting the Cleveland lead to 2-1. Andy Dirks drew a walk, and Avila pounded a 1-0 pitch over the wall in left-center field for his ninth home run, giving Detroit a 4-2 lead.
The win goes to reliever Al Alburquerque (2-2). Perez's record fell to 4-2. Joaquin Benoit pitched the ninth for the Tigers and picked up his 13th save.
Prior to the ninth inning Indians starter Corey Kluber and Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez spent most of the game locked in a tense pitcher's duel.
Kluber (8-5) pitched 7 1/3 scoreless innings, giving up five hits, with six strikeouts and one walk.
Sanchez came into the game with a record of 3-1 and a 1.76 ERA in five career starts against Cleveland. Sanchez pitched 7 2/3 innings, giving up four hits, with 11 strikeouts and two walks.
Cleveland took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Michael Brantley singled, stole second, then scored on a two-out single by Jason Giambi.
With two outs and nobody on in the Cleveland fourth, Brantley singled again and scored on a double off the right-field wall by Carlos Santana, giving the Indians a 2-0 lead.
The Tigers had chances to score in each of the first two innings, but Kluber wiggled out of both jams. With a runner at second and two outs in the first, Kluber struck out Fielder to end that threat. In the second, the Tigers had runners at first and second with nobody out, but Kluber got outs from the next three batters, aided by outstanding defensive plays by center fielder Michael Bourn and first baseman Nick Swisher.
Notes: Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta was not at Progressive Field Monday as he began serving his 50-game suspension handed down by Major League Baseball. . . Prior to the game the Tigers recalled INF Hernan Perez from Class AA Erie, and they purchased the contract of RHP Jeremy Bonderman from Class AAA Toledo. . . Indians ace Justin Masterson, who will start Tuesday, has struggled vs. the Tigers this year, going 0-2 with a 7.71 ERA in two starts. . . Giambi came into Monday's game with 35 home runs and 94 RBIs in 399 career at bats vs. Detroit.
