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 J.D. Martinez hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning and
added a two-run triple in the seventh Friday night to back a strong
David Price start and lead the Detroit Tigers to a 7-2 victory over
the Cleveland Indians.
The win vaulted Detroit back over Kansas City, which lost 4-2 to
Boston, into first place by a half-game in the American League
Central Division. Cleveland is 4 1/2 in back of Detroit.
J.D. Martinez now has 21 home runs and 69 RBIs and is batting .305
in 108 games with Detroit, which signed him late in spring training
when the Houston Astros released him.
"He's been a huge find for them," Cleveland manager Terry Francona
said. "I don't know if 'find' is the right word. When he came up
with Houston, one month he had 45 RBIs, which I believe is still the
record for them.
"But he's been a find in that he was in Triple-A for them and now
he's hitting fifth. He makes it that much tougher to pitch to
(Miguel) Cabrera and (Victor) Martinez."
"I've known him since Little League," said Tigers' catcher Alex
Avila, whose RBI single to third followed J.D. Martinez's two-run
triple off the right-center wall. "He's always had power, been able
to hit home runs. When he was with Houston, he was hitting fourth."
His home run broke a 1-1 tie and his triple made it 6-1. First
baseman Victor Martinez hit an RBI single in front of J.D. Martinez.
Second baseman Ian Kinsler had a two-out double in the third to
create a 1-1 tie.
"He threw me a slider on the first pitch," J.D. Martinez said. "I
was looking for a pitch out over the plate on the second one."
The left-handed Price (14-11) allowed a second-inning homer to
Cleveland right fielder Ryan Raburn and seven other hits in 7 2/3
innings. Price didn't walk anybody and struck out seven.
"I thought I pitched well," Price said. "I was getting that leadoff
man out. Defensively, we had some great plays like Ian Kinsler
catching that line drive and Alex (Avila) jumping to catch that ball
in front of the net (behind home plate).
"I know the stuff I possess on the mound is good enough for me to be
dominant."
Price threw 97 pitches but was taken out after giving up a two-out
single in the eighth.
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Right-hander Carlos Carrasco (7-5) was charged with Detroit's first
four runs. He gave up seven hits in 6 2/3 innings.
"He continues to be a really good pitcher for us," Francona said.
"But against their lineup, if you make a mistake there's a good
chance they're going to make you pay.
"He threw Martinez a breaking ball on the first pitch then tried to
go away with a fastball but it got way too much of the plate."
Cleveland opened a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Raburn slammed
a fastball over the left-center fence for his fourth home run of the
season.
Detroit opened the season in first place in the AL Central and
remained there through Aug. 10. The Royals passed the Tigers the
next day and had been there since, with the teams tied on two days.
NOTES: Tigers LHP Phil Coke was questionable for Friday's game after
hurting his right hip trying to field a bunt Wednesday night. He did
not play Friday. ... LF Michael Brantley served as manager Terry
Francona's designated hitter after playing in both games of
Thursday's doubleheader against Minnesota. ... SS Eugenio Suarez was
back in Detroit's starting lineup after watching SS Andrew Romine
start four in a row. ... RHP Corey Kluber and LHP T.J. House, who
each started one game of Cleveland's double win Thursday over
Minnesota, will pitch Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, Francona
said.
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