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 The Cleveland Indians right-hander delivered his second
consecutive strong start in a 3-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers on
Wednesday night at Comerica Park.
McAllister (2-0), who pitched 7 2/3 shutout innings a week earlier
against San Diego, held the Tigers to one run on four hits in six
innings while striking out four.
That was a comforting performance in a game which started with a
temperature of 42 degrees and eventually plunged into the mid-30s.
"On a night like tonight, it felt like we sat in the dugout more
than we were on the field, which was good," Cleveland manager Terry
Francona said. "He got the ball and worked quickly.
"A couple of innings where they were grinding out some at-bats, he
kept his poise, made pitches and really did a good job."
Cleveland, which had lost four of its last five, got off to a good
start against Detroit after losing 15 of 19 games to its American
League Central Division rival last season. McAllister was one of the
culprits, going 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA against the Tigers in three
starts.
"Last year, the third time through the lineup, those guys were able
to jump on me and put something together," McAllister said. "It was
nice to be able to go out there today and get through that fifth and
sixth pretty smoothly."
He was followed by three relievers, including John Axford, who
picked up his fifth save by stranding a runner at third.
Axford, who blew his last save opportunity against the Chicago White
Sox on Sunday, gave up a one-out double to Alex Avila. Centerfielder
Michael Bourn's error allowed Avila to advance to third but Axford
struck out pinch-hitter Don Kelly and induced Rajai Davis to ground
out to end the game.
"He knows we're not going to run away from him," Francona said of
his closer. "He got into a little bit of a bind because the ball is
mishandled out in right-center and Avila goes to third. But he made
some real good pitches to Kelly."
Yan Gomes' two-run triple in the second inning was the biggest hit
of the game.
Bourn, who was activated off the disabled list on Tuesday after
recovering from a left hamstring injury, went 0 for 4 with a walk
and a run scored in his season debut.
First baseman Miguel Cabrera drove in both runs for the Tigers, who
have lost five of their last seven. Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez
(0-1) walked the first three batters he faced but settled down to
strike out eight in five innings. He gave up three runs, two earned,
on two hits.
"I've never pitched with weather like that before," Sanchez said.
"The weather affected me in the first inning, especially because my
body never got warm. After the first inning, I started to get ahead
in the count with my secondary pitches."
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Cabrera's RBI single in the eighth against reliever Cody Allen
reduced Cleveland's lead to 3-2. It could have been a bigger inning
if Torii Hunter hadn't failed to advance two runners with a bunt
before Cabrera's at-bat. Hunter wound up hitting into a double play.
"It's been a long time (since he was asked to bunt) but I come to
win," Hunter said. "My manager (Brad Ausmus) tells me to do
something, I should be able to go out there and execute it and I
didn't today. That's probably why we lost."
Gomes' two-run triple gave the Indians a 3-1 lead in the second. It
followed a Cabrera error and the fourth walk issued by Sanchez.
Cleveland wasted an opportunity in the first inning. Sanchez, who
missed the strike zone with 14 of his first 19 pitches, walked the
bases loaded. Indians cleanup hitter Carlos Santana bailed him out
by grounding into a double play as a run scored. Michael Brantley
then fouled out to third baseman Nick Castellanos.
Ian Kinsler's leadoff double helped the Tigers tie it in the bottom
of the first. Kinsler came around on two groundouts, including
Cabrera's run-scoring bouncer to short.
NOTES: The series was shortened to two games because of Tuesday's
postponement. ... Tigers LHP Drew Smyly, who was scheduled to make
his first start this season on Wednesday, will start against the Los
Angeles Angels on Friday. ... Cleveland was 43-17 last season when
CF Michael Bourn scored at least one run. ... Indians second-year
RHP Danny Salazar will start against Tigers ace Justin Verlander in
Thursday's matinee. "He embraces challenges," Indians manager Terry
Francona said. ... The Tigers were 5-2 in RHP Anibal Sanchez's seven
previous starts against Cleveland.
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