Cleveland Vs. Detroit 8-9-11
The Detroit Tigers acquired Doug Fister before the trading deadline in hopes that he will help deliver the team's first division title in 24 years.
The right-hander can make an important contribution for the AL Central-leading Tigers on Tuesday night by ending their lengthy road losing streak to the second-place Cleveland Indians.
Fister (4-12, 3.29 ERA), brought over from Seattle in a six-player deal July 30, had a strong debut for the Tigers on Wednesday. He gave up three runs over seven innings of a 5-4 victory over Texas to snap a personal seven-game skid.
"He did exactly what we expected him to do," manager Jim Leyland said. "He's going to give up some hits, because he throws so many strikes, but he gets the job done. He gets outs."
Fister's performance has helped Detroit (61-53), winner of six of nine, move four games in front of Cleveland (56-56), which has lost 12 of 17. The Indians, though, have won 11 in a row at Progressive Field over the Tigers, the last three coming April 29-May 1.
"They've been fantastic at home with a lot of dramatic wins this year," Leyland told the team's official website. "They've got a lot going for them. (Manager Manny Acta) has done a tremendous job. They've had some injuries, but they've played above injuries. They've done everything you could ask."
That sweep was part of a 19-4 start at home this season, but the Indians have dropped 20 of 30 in Cleveland since then.
They'll face the Tigers 12 times over their final 50 games.
"We just need to stay close, within striking distance, and not let this thing get too far out of reach for us," closer Chris Perez told the team's website. "It's going to be fun. This is why we play. Every game is important, but those head-to-head matchups are even more important just because you control it yourself."
Justin Masterson (9-7, 2.63) will try to help his club begin cutting into Detroit's lead by building on his 7-3 win at Boston on Thursday. The right-hander matched a season high with nine strikeouts against his former team and gave up three runs over six innings for his first victory in four starts.
"Right now, our main guy has been Justin Masterson," Acta said. "He's a guy who from now on, and for awhile now, we have tried to keep him on the five days routine because he's the guy that we want to see out there every five days."
Masterson has gone 0-3 with a 5.52 ERA in five starts against the Tigers, but he's pitched effectively against them in two starts this season, posting a 2.70 ERA.
Fister has gone 0-2 with a 3.16 ERA in four career starts versus Cleveland. He yielded two runs over eight innings May 13 at Progressive Field, but the Mariners bullpen gave up three runs in the final inning of a 5-4 defeat.
Fister and Masterson matched up April 9 at Safeco Field, with Masterson coming out on top 2-1.
The Indians' home win streak over the Tigers is their longest since a series-high 15-game run Aug. 3, 1994-May 3, 1997.
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