The Detroit Tigers avoided a three-game sweep in Cleveland with a 7-1 win over the Indians on Wednesday night. The Tigers got on the board early with a two-run home run by Miguel Cabrera in the first inning. Cleveland narrowed the margin in the fourth, when a Michael Brantley single brought home Jason Kipnis. Detroit blew the game open in a five-run eighth inning, highlighted by a Prince Fielder solo home run.
Detroit starter Doug Fister went seven innings in his second start back from a groin injury, giving up just one earned run and four hits while striking out six. Fister is now 8-8 on the season. Joaquin Benoit and Jose Valverde each contributed one scoreless inning of relief to close out the game. Cleveland starter Ubaldo Jimenez fell to 9-15 on the season after conceding four earned runs in 7.1 innings.
The Tigers have a travel day Thursday before opening a three-game series in Anaheim on Friday. Detroit remains one game behind the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central.
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