The Indians completed a three-game series sweep in Detroit for the first time since 2008, using a pair of RBI hits each from Jose Ramirez and Marlon Byrd to win what ended up a battle of the bullpens for a 6-3 victory over the Tigers Sunday afternoon at Comerica Park.
Both starting pitchers, Cleveland’s Carlos Carrasco and Detroit’s Shane Greene (1-2), were out by the middle of the fourth due to injuries. While converted starter Trevor Bauer tossed 3 1/3 innings, the Indians jumped former Tigers starting prospect Drew VerHagen with three-run rallies in the fourth and fifth. Ramirez and Byrd, batting fifth and sixth in the Cleveland order, produced RBIs in each inning.
“It’s always big to get out to a good start against the division,” Bauer (1-0) said. “Any time you can get a sweep is big, especially in the division. It enforces the mindset of, ‘Yeah, it’s the Tigers, but we’re going to beat them.'”
Detroit’s early damage came on a Nick Castellanos two-run single in the fourth. Victor Martinez slugged an RBI double to the deepest part of Comerica Park’s outfield in the eighth to draw closer before Jeff Manship retired Miguel Cabrera to strand the bases loaded.
Click here to read more of this story.
About Marion Online Sports
