MLB GAME RECAP

Indians clinch AL Central with win over Tigers

The Sports Xchange

September 26, 2016 at 10:57 pm.

Sep 26, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Cleveland Indians left fielder Coco Crisp (4) gets a hit during the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. The Indians won 7-4 to clinch the AL Central Division title. Photo Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Sep 26, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Cleveland Indians left fielder Coco Crisp (4) gets a hit during the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. The Indians won 7-4 to clinch the AL Central Division title. Photo Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

DETROIT — Coco Crisp hit a two-run home run and Roberto Perez added a solo shot plus an RBI single and Cleveland’s bullpen pieced together five workable relief innings Monday night to help the Indians defeat the Detroit Tigers, 7-4, and clinch their eighth American League Central Division title.

Crisp and Rajai Davis singled with two out in the eighth before Perez lined a single to center to give Cleveland a 6-4 lead. Carlos Santana hit a pop fly near the right field line that J.D. Martinez dropped for a run-scoring error to make it 7-4.

Miguel Cabrera’s second RBI single of the game and 97th of the season cut a two-run Indians lead down to 5-4 in the seventh. Ian Kinsler doubled to left off Brian Shaw and went to third on a groundout.

Andrew Miller was brought in and Cabrera squeezed a single through short to drive in Kinsler before Cleveland’s ace reliever fanned Victor and J.D. Martinez to end the threat.

Jason Kipnis had an RBI double that keyed a two-run fifth to help the Indians collect their first AL Central title since 2007. Perez just breached the right field wall for his third home run of the season leading off the seventh against Justin Wilson, boosting the Indians lead back to 5-3, after the Tigers had pulled to within a run.

Cleveland ace Corey Kluber started but was taken out with right-groin tightness after four innings and 60 pitches, leading 4-2. He allowed two runs on four hits with a walk and three strikeouts.

Dan Otero (four outs) and Shaw (three) each allowed a run. Miller (10-1, 4-0 with Cleveland) retired five straight batters (four on strikeouts) after giving up the single to Cabrera and was awarded the victory. Cody Allen picked up his 30th save for pitching the ninth.

Buck Farmer (0-1) pitched the first five innings for Detroit, allowing four runs on four hits and four walks while fanning two.

Detroit’s third loss in a row eliminated it from the AL Central race but the Tigers still hope to grab a wild-card berth. They trail idle Baltimore by two games for the second wild card.

Cabrera singled in Kinsler, who had singled off reliever Dan Otero to open the fifth and gone to second on a groundout to second to bring the Tigers within a run at 4-3. Cabrera now has 96 RBIs.

Kipnis doubled home Santana, who had singled, to break a 2-2 tie in the fifth. Francisco Lindor sacrificed Kipnis to third and he scored on a sacrifice fly to deep center by Mike Napoli to give the Indians a 4-2 lead.

Kluber started but was taken out with right groin tightness after four innings and 60 pitches. He allowed two runs on four hits with a walk and three strikeouts.

J.D. Martinez tied the score, 2-2, in the bottom of the second with an opposite field home run to right field. Victor Martinez singled on Kluber’s first pitch of the inning J.D. Martinez hit an outside 0-2 fastball for his 22nd home run.

Cleveland struck for two runs in the second on a home run to right by Coco Crisp, his 13th. Napoli walked leading off and two batters later, Crisp ripped a meaty 3-2 Farmer fastball into the right field stands.

NOTES: RHP Danny Salazar is moving cautiously toward a return to Cleveland’s pitching staff. He threw 20 pitches at 75 percent on Monday and will throw a few more times this week. “His health is the first priority. He’s not rushing into anything,” manager Terry Francona said. “This is not a speed-up program. This is a back-to-throw program, this is the program that guys are supposed to do.” … Tigers LHP Kyle Ryan, out of action since Sept. 15 with a back/rib problem, was available to pitch Monday. … Cleveland entered Monday’s game 13-2 against Detroit this season. … 3B Nick Castellanos has an intrasquad game Tuesday and if all goes well could return to the Tigers after that.

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