Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Armando Galarraga continued his mastery of the Indians with seven shutout innings, and the Detroit Tigers shut out Cleveland, 6-0, in the opener of a three-game set at Comerica Park.
Galarraga (4-5), whose last appearance against Cleveland resulted in what should have been a perfect game, allowed just three hits and struck out eight without walking a batter. Back on June 2, Galarraga tossed his first career shutout, retiring the first 26 batters of the game before umpire Jim Joyce botched a call at first base that would have resulted in the third perfect game of the season.
Instead, he settled for a one-hitter, and Galarraga stretched his scoreless innings streak against the Indians this season to 16. He has given up at least one run in every start this season except both games against Cleveland.
Don Kelly recorded a career-high four hits to go with two runs scored and an RBI for Detroit, which snapped a three-game losing streak and a four-game skid to the Indians. Brandon Inge fell a homer shy of the cycle, while Will Rhymes, Austin Jackson and Miguel Cabrera each recorded a multi-hit game.
Jayson Nix doubled for the Indians to break up a no-hitter in the fifth, as the Indians fell for the ninth time in 12 games. Justin Masterson (4-12) continued to struggle, giving up five runs on 11 hits and a walk in six frames.
The Tigers wasted no time building a lead, scoring twice in the first.
Jackson led off the inning with a single, stole second and advanced to third on a Rhymes bunt single. Jackson was able to score on the play when catcher Lou Marson threw the ball away, which also let Rhymes reach second.
Rhymes went to third on a groundout and scored on Cabrera's base hit for a 2-0 lead.
Gerald Laird and Jackson each hit an RBI single in the second to double the lead to four. Rhymes' run-scoring single in the fourth made it a 5-0 contest.
Meanwhile, Galarraga dominated. He retired the first 14 Indians batters of the game before Nix hit a double to left just past the outstretched glove of Kelly.
Galarraga allowed just two more hits in his seven innings of work, and Ryan Perry followed with a perfect eighth. Kelly's RBI double in the eighth accounted for the final margin, and Phil Coke polished off the win with a scoreless ninth.
The Tigers had an eight-game homer streak snapped. They also had a streak of seven games with multiple home runs stopped...Detroit is 13-2 in its last 15 home games against the Indians...The Tigers lead the season series, 7-6...Former Indians infielder Jhonny Peralta faced his old team for the first time and went 0-for-4...The Tigers went 8-for-20 with runners in scoring position, while the Indians went 0-for-1.