Detroit Vs. Cleveland 6-15-11
The Cleveland Indians have surprisingly led the AL Central for much of the season, but they now find themselves looking up at the Detroit Tigers.
To regain a share of first place, the struggling Indians will likely need a better effort from Fausto Carmona on Wednesday night in Detroit.
With 15 losses in 20 games, Cleveland (35-30) has dropped out of the top spot in the Central for the first time since April 6.
"Our kids are young, but they aren't naive," manager Manny Acta said. "They know there are no trophies for first place in June."
Detroit, meanwhile, has taken over sole possession of the Central lead for the first time since last July 10 by winning 12 of 16. Justin Verlander took a no-hitter into the eighth inning of Tuesday's 4-0 victory, his team's 16th in its last 18 home matchups with the Indians.
"It's early in the season, but we've got to get (in first place) at some point," Verlander said. "We've got the talent. We should win a lot of ballgames."
Carmona (3-8, 5.71) doesn't appear likely end the Tigers' surge, as he has posted a 9.55 ERA while dropping five consecutive starts. He gave up six runs over four innings of Friday's 11-7 defeat in New York and declined to speak with reporters after the game.
"I haven't seen him so divorced from the strike zone as he was today in the two years I've been here," Acta said.
Carmona, who lost six consecutive outings Aug. 7-Sept. 3, has a 3.27 ERA over his last five matchups with the Tigers. However, he's received no runs of support in three of those starts, losing two.
Now, the right-hander will face a team that's batting .311 over its last 14 games.
Several current Tigers have had success hitting Carmona. Miguel Cabrera is 9 for 28 with three homers, Victor Martinez - hitting .371 over his last 18 games overall - is 2 for 6, and Austin Jackson is 4 for 8.
Carmona will be opposed by veteran right-hander Brad Penny (5-5, 4.69), who has split a pair of outings this month.
Penny allowed three runs and eight hits in seven respectable innings Friday against Seattle but was on the wrong end of a 3-2 defeat.
"I felt fine, but I'm never going to be happy when I lose a game," he said.
Penny gave up seven runs - four earned - over 2 2-3 innings in his only start against Cleveland on April 28, 2009, when he was with Boston. This time, he'll face a team that has totaled two runs in its last four games and has averaged 2.7 during its 5-15 slump.
Second baseman Orlando Cabrera had the first of Cleveland's two hits Tuesday, but is batting .153 over his last 22 games. He's also struggled against Penny, hitting .175 in 63 career at-bats.
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