Napoli's blast helps Indians end brief skid

[July 05, 2016]  CLEVELAND -- Some home cooking and a familiar foe were just what the Cleveland Indians needed to end their brief two-game losing streak.

Mike Napoli's two-run home run in the seventh inning broke a 3-3 tie and lifted the Indians to a 5-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Monday night at Progressive Field.

With the win, Cleveland is 10-0 vs. Detroit this season. The American League Central Division-leading Indians extended their lead over the second-place Tigers to 6 1/2 games. The loss snaps Detroit's six-game winning streak.

The Indians have also won 12 games in a row at home. Their last loss at Progressive Field was on May 31.

Reliever Jeff Manship (1-1) pitched 1 1/3 perfect innings to get the win and Cody Allen pitched the ninth to earn his 18th save.

With the score tied at 3, right-hander Bruce Rondon (2-1) struck out Jason Kipnis to start the inning, but Francisco Lindor drew a walk.

Napoli then walloped an 0-1 pitch deep into the bleachers above the left-field wall for his 17th home run, a two-run blast that gave the Indians a 5-3 lead.

"He throws pretty hard," said Napoli of Rondon. "I just tried to stay short to the ball and I caught it right."

Signed to a one-year contract as a free agent during the winter, Napoli leads the Indians with 55 RBIs and he's second on the team with 17 home runs.

"That's why he's here. We like for him to take three good swings (in every at-bat)," Indians manager Terry Francona said.

The game ended on a video replay. With a runner at first and one out Jose Iglesias hit a sharp grounder to second baseman Kipnis, who flipped to shortstop Lindor for the out at second. Lindor's throw to first arrived at the same time as Iglesias.

First base umpire Jordan Baker called Iglesias safe. Francona challenged the call.

"We had nothing to lose there," he said.

After a video review the call was reversed. Iglesias was ruled out, completing a game-ending double play.

"I was a little surprised they changed it. I thought (Iglesias) beat the throw," said Tigers manager Brad Ausmus.

The Indians and starter Danny Salazar took a 3-1 lead into the sixth inning, but Salazar, who came into the game leading the American League with a 2.22 ERA, was unable to make it through the sixth.

With two outs, Victor Martinez lined a single to right field. Nick Castellanos then belted a 1-1 pitch over the wall in left field for his 15th home run, a two-run blast that tied the game at 3.

Castellanos' 15 home runs match his career high set last year, but at this point last season he only had six homers.

"He's much more selective this year," Ausmus said. "He's not going out of the zone like he did the last couple of years."

Salazar gave up a walk and a single to the next two batters before Manship came in to get the third out, then retired the side in order in the seventh inning.

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