Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Mitch Talbot pitched seven shutout innings, and the Cleveland Indians blanked the Detroit Tigers, 4-0, in the opener of a doubleheader at Progressive Field.
Talbot (10-13) yielded just five hits and struck out five without walking a batter for the Indians, who have won five straight, one shy of their season- high. Travis Hafner and Shin-Soo Choo each hit a two-run homer in the win.
Max Scherzer (12-11) allowed four runs on eight hits and three walks in five innings for the Tigers, who have lost the first two of this series following a four-game win streak.
After stranding the bases loaded in the first inning, the Indians finally cracked the scoreboard in the third when Choo reached on a one-out bunt single and scored on Hafner's blast to right.
Two innings later, Asdrubal Cabrera worked a leadoff walk and Choo followed with his 21st home run of the season for a 4-0 lead.
Talbot, meanwhile, was dominant on the mound, preventing a runner from reaching third in any of his seven innings.
Jensen Lewis allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth, and Vinnie Pestano finished off the win with a one-hit ninth for Cleveland.
Game Notes
The Tigers lead the season series, 9-8, and the home team has won the last 11 in the series and 15 of the 17 matchups this season...Indians outfielder Trevor Crowe had a 13-game hit streak snapped after an 0-for-4 effort...Choo has 25 RBI in 26 September games...Detroit outfielder Johnny Damon became the fifth major leaguer in history to appear in 140 games in 15 straight seasons.