Tigers 8, Indians 6: Detroit continues early division mastery

DETROIT -- After ending a four-game losing streak a day earlier, the Tigers' offense was alive for a second straight game they desperately needed to take, winning 8-6 Sunday in the final game of a 10-game homestand and taking the weekend series against the Indians. Miguel Cabrera backed Kyle Lobstein's strong start on the mound with a massive home run and a 3-for-4 day.

The Tigers' offense was both productive and frustrating. They scored eight runs on 13 hits but also managed to strand eight runners, including more than once in a bases-loaded situation. However, Cabrera, who hadn't hit a home run in two weeks, smoked a two-run bomb to right field in the sixth inning, giving the Tigers a 7-2 lead and what would be the game-winning runs. He went 3-for-4 with three RBI. At the top of the order, Rajai Davis reached base five times, going 3-for-4 and scoring thrice before exiting with a "tight right groin." He is deemed day-to-day. Ian Kinsler was 2-for-4 with two runs scored of his own.

Lobstein (2-1) gave the Tigers another good start, allowing three runs in seven innings on the mound. He gave up six hits and two walks while striking out four. Tigers closer Joakim Soria allowed just his second run of the season in the ninth, a solo home run to right, but he pitched well after, retiring the next three batters to earn his AL-leading seventh save of the season. Reliever Angel Nesbitt was the only Tiger to stumble, allowing two runs on three hits while recording only an out in the eight inning.

ROARS:

Kyle Lobstein: Pitched seven innings of three-run ball on six hits, walking two and striking out four. For a spot starter while Justin Verlander remains on hold, Lobstein is holding his own and seems to be settling in with the Tigers rotation. The seven innings pitched matched a career-high when he last went seven on September 22, 2014 against the Chicago White Sox.

Rajai Davis: Davis got on base five times Sunday afternoon. He hit a leadoff triple in the first and legged-out an infield single in the sixth. He also avoided grounding into a triple play and was hit by a pitch. He scored on three of the occasions he reached base, and the Tigers are now 9-1 when he starts. Defensively, Davis also got a good read on a flyout to make a diving catch.

Miguel Cabrera: Hit a two-run opposite field home run in the sixth inning, his third of the season. Cabrera also knocked two singles in the first and third innings respectively, striking out once. He finished 3-for-4 for the day and gave the Tigers a 7-2 lead at the time.

J.D. Martinez: Ended an 0-for-7 mini-slump with a two-run double in the fifth inning. He also drove in a run on a double play, but it was the double in the fifth that gave the Tigers a three-run lead.

HISSES:

Nick Castellanos: Was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.

Angel Nesbitt: Faced four batters and retired only one, giving up two runs on three hits and a wild pitch. Not a brilliant outing for the reliever.

NOTES:

- In the second inning Ryan Raburn hit an RBI double and was called out at third base by umpire Chad Fairchild while attempting to turn the double into a triple. Carlos Santana scored from first base, but the Indians challenged the call. While it appeared that Raburn had made it in safely, after a 2:11 review the call stood ... to everyone's surprise.

- The Tigers avoided grounding into an inning-ending triple play in the second inning. James McCann reached on an error by Indians' Mike Aviles, which Jose Iglesias followed with a single up the middle. Davis lined a grounder straight at third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall and only avoided the triple play due to his speed, barely beating out the 5-4-3 play. The Tigers did not score as Kinsler grounded out 6-3 to end the inning, stranding Davis at first.

- Rajai Davis reached for the fifth time today in the eighth inning, but pulled up on his way to first base. The center fielder appeared to have injured himself and was immediately pulled for a pinch runner, Anthony Gose. Davis left the game with right groin tightness and is day-to-day.

STREAKS AND STATS:

• Rajai Davis' leadoff triple in the first gave him a nine-game hitting streak. The two hits gave him his third multi-hit game for the season.
• Ian Kinsler's two hits in the first and fifth innings gives him his third straight multi-hit game, and his ninth of the season, which places him in a tie for second in the AL.
• Ian Kinsler's steal of second in the fifth inning was his third steal of the season, and the 20th stolen base for the Tigers, tying them for the MLB lead with the Cincinnati Reds.
• Miguel Cabrera's two-run home run in the sixth inning was his third of the season. The home run also marked his 393rd career home run, tying him with Jim Edmonds for 57th in MLB history. Cabrera is hitting .652 with three home runs and eight RBI against the Indians this year.
• The Tigers have won all four series they've played against AL Central opponents.

WIN PROBABILITY GRAPH:

Source: FanGraphs