Cleveland Indians: Tribe Rallies to Beat Verlander, Tigers

7 - 17 - 10     vs. Detroit     W, 4 - 3     36 - 54

     Spotting Justin Verlander with a 3 - 0 lead is never a good idea, especially when you are just beginning what could quickly become a long and miserable doubleheader.  Yet, that is exactly what the Indians did, and, incredibly, they came back and won.
     The Tigers got all three of those runs in the 1st inning.  After two men had been retired, Carlos Guillen bounced a two - run single back up the middle, and Brandon Inge followed with a RBI double to the alley in left - center field.  The frame mercifully ended when Guillen was thrown out at the plate attempting to score on Inge's two - bagger.
     The Tribe began their comeback against Detroit's ace in the 3rd as they scored twice before anyone had been retired.  Andy Marte singled, Jason Donald doubled to the gap in right - center, scoring Marte, and Michael Brantley rolled one into center that scored Donald.
     After wasting a scoring opportunity in the 5th, Cleveland finally drew even in the 6th.  Verlander uncorked a pair of wild pitches, and the second one scored Shelley Duncan from third base.  The Tigers had a chance to get Duncan at the dish, but catcher Alex Avila's throw was slightly off - line.
     The Indians finally grabbed the lead in the 7th, and they did it by performing a little two - out magic at the expense of Detroit's bullpen.  Matt LaPorta doubled and Shelley Duncan walked, bringing up the man of the hour, Trevor Crowe.  And Crowe delivered by hitting a single to right that plated LaPorta and gave the Tribe the eventual game - winning tally.
     The Tigers put some threats together late in the game, but Cleveland's relief corps met the challenge each and every time, and it was Chris Perez who worked around a bit of a mess in the 9th to earn the save.
      Fausto Carmona bounced back from the disastrous 1st inning and he was able to go six scoreless frames after the early meltdown.  Carmona was also able to pick up the win, his ninth of the year.
     And now, back to our friend, Mr. Verlander.  He was not saddled with the loss, but those three runs he gave up proved to be the difference in this game.