Indians 6, Tigers 4: Carmona and Cabrera Get Tribe Back in First

Rooted in fortuitous pitching and timely hitting from a colectively slumping lineup, the Cleveland Indians scored six runs for only the second time in their last 13 games. A four-run fourth inning anchored by the bottom of the Tribe’s lineup provided the start of what would ultimately be a 6-4 win over the host Detroit Tigers placing both teams in a virtual tie for first place in the AL Central.

Pitching from behind for the early portion of the game, Fausto Carmona seemed unwilling to keep a lead despite said fourth inning where the Indians would bat around the order.  Tigers starting pitcher Brad Penny would be pulled from his start after allowing three earned runs with the only out being recorded on a Jack Hannahan sacrifice bunt.  Following singles by Asdrubal Cabrera, Matt LaPorta, Orlando Cabrera and Lou Marson coupled with a Shin-Soo Choo walk, the Hannahan sacrifice bunt would be enough for a fourth earned run off of the bat of Grady Sizemore who slapped a deep sacrifice fly to center field.

Heading into the bottom of the inning with what would be a one-run lead, Carmona promptly gave up the slight cushion after the top of the Tigers’ lineup would manufacture a run of their own. That is at least until the game’s unlikely hero at the plate, Orlando Cabrera – he of the .593 OPS, would come through yet again; a run-scoring double which would be his third hit of the evening. Fausto would then pitch his best inning of the game, concluding with a strikeout of Jhonny Peralta which resulted in the pseudonarcoleptic celebration pictured above. The final figures for Fausto: eight hits and four earned runs in five innings of work. 

The Bullpen Mafia was in All-Star form on this very evening as Rafael Perez, Don Vinny Pestano and Tony Sipp would combine for three innings of no-hit ball with three strikeouts and a huge double-play ball off of the bat of the ever-dangerous Miguel Cabrera. A Matt LaPorta groundout in the seventh inning would provide the Indians with a two-run lead and earn LaPorta a dugout full of high-fives.

In the ninth, it was all in the hands of Chris Perez who would swiftly took care of his three batters, striking out a pinch-hitting Andy Dirks along with Don Kelly before Brennan Boesch (who homered earlier in the game) would fly out to left field.  Despite his rather pedestrian strikeout totals on the season, Perez earned his 17th save (second in the American League) and lowered his ERA and WHIP to  2.49 and 1.18, respectively.  The save also provided Carmona with his first win since May 3 when he won in Oakland.

With manager Manny Acta tinkering with the Tribe lineup, it is fitting that the five-through-nine hitters would combine for a 10-for-17 night with five runs scored and five RBI despite only one extra-base hit (the Cabrera double).

Both teams will look for sole representation of first place in the AL Central today as they will square off for the final game of the series.  Mitch Talbot (2-3, 4.01 ERA) will face Max Scherzer (8-2, 4.39 ERA) at 1:05pm.  The last time the Indians faced Scherzer, they tagged the big-armed youngster for five runs on six hits in six innings of work.

“It’s going to be a really, really interesting season,” Orlando Cabrera said postgame. “It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be a battle. Hopefully, we’ll have more games like this.”

The Tribe will certainly have their chance – the two teams lock up 13 more times through the duration of the 2011 regular season.

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(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)