Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Jeanmar Gomez had quite the major league debut, allowing just two unearned runs in seven strong innings, as the Indians used an inside-the-park homer from Jhonny Peralta to beat the Tigers, 7-2, and sweep Detroit in a four-game set for the first time in over 19 years.
Gomez (1-0), recalled for a spot start after a doubleheader on Saturday, gave up just five hits and a walk while fanning four on 93 pitches for the Indians, who have started the second half at 4-0 for the first time since 1995. With the win, Cleveland recorded its first four-game sweep of Detroit since May 31- June 3, 1991.
Peralta, meanwhile, drove in three runs with his odd home run, only the eighth such occurrence in Progressive Field history. Matt LaPorta added an RBI triple -- his first career three-bagger -- while Jayson Nix had three hits and an RBI in the win.
Magglio Ordonez and Miguel Cabrera each drove in a run for the Tigers, who have lost five straight following a five-game win streak. Andrew Oliver (0-4), a rookie like his pitching counterpart on Sunday, couldn't match Gomez, giving up five runs on four hits and five walks in 3 2/3 innings.
The Indians grabbed the early lead in the opening inning with an unlikely play.
Nix doubled with one away, and Carlos Santana followed with a walk. Two batters later, Peralta drilled an Oliver offering deep to center. Ryan Raburn attempted to make a leaping catch near the wall, but the ball caromed off the bullpen door, as did Raburn, who fell as the ball bounced away and the door swung open. Left fielder Brennan Boesch raced over to grab the loose ball in the outfield, but Peralta had rounded the bases by the time Boesch threw it back to the infield for a three-run inside-the-park homer.
Oliver got a bit wild in the fourth inning, walking both LaPorta and Trevor Crowe to begin the frame. LaPorta eventually came around to score on Jason Donald's groundout for a 4-0 game.
Still in the same inning, Michael Brantley scalded a sharp ground ball to the third baseman Don Kelly. Kelly was able to make a good stop, but his throw to first was off the mark, allowing Crowe to score from second on the play.
Gomez, meanwhile, shut out the Tigers for the first five innings, but Detroit managed to find its way onto the scoreboard in the sixth.
Kelly singled with one away, and Johnny Damon lined a sharp grounder through Andy Marte's legs at first, putting runners on the corners after the error. Ordonez followed with an RBI single, and Cabrera's sacrifice fly made it 5-2.
Cleveland added an insurance run in the seventh, as Peralta reached on a fielder's choice and scored on LaPorta's two-out triple to right. Nix's RBI single in the eighth accounted for the final score.
The Indians' last inside-the-park home run came off the bat of Grady Sizemore on April 27, 2007 against the Orioles. Six of the eight such home runs in the park's history have been hit by Cleveland...The season series is tied, 6-6...Gomez also recorded a pickoff in the third inning. He pitched a perfect game at Double-A Akron last season and was 6-8 with a 5.70 earned run average at Triple-A Columbus at the time of his recall...Cleveland has recorded an extra-base hit in 41 straight games, the longest active streak in the AL...The Indians have won nine of their last 11 home games...The last Indians pitcher to win his major league debut was Scott Lewis on September 10, 2008 against Baltimore...The Cleveland bullpen threw 13 1/3 scoreless innings in the series.
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