Tigers Look To Extend Division Lead
DETROIT (AP) - After winning the opener of this important three-game series, the Detroit Tigers won't need to worry about the Cleveland Indians overtaking them for first place in the AL Central this weekend.
The Tigers look to further extend their division lead with a third consecutive victory over the Indians on Saturday night at Comerica Park.
Max Scherzer threw seven solid innings while Austin Jackson, Alex Avila and Jhonny Peralta each homered to help Detroit (66-58) beat Cleveland 4-1 on Friday. Though the Indians still lead the season series 6-4, the Tigers have won the last two matchups and have a 2 1/2-game lead over Cleveland (62-59) in the Central.
"The way they are playing, the way we are playing and even the way (third-place) Chicago is playing, I don't think this is going to be decided in the next couple days," losing pitcher Josh Tomlin said after the Indians fell for the 18th time in 21 games at Comerica Park.
A big reason the Tigers are in first place is Avila's hot hitting.
The All-Star catcher is batting .420 with four homers and 12 RBIs in 15 games this month and .368 with four RBIs in his last six versus Cleveland.
"What Alex is doing is amazing," Scherzer said. "He's irreplaceable right now."
Peralta, meanwhile, has homered in consecutive contests and is 6 for 10 with three RBIs in his last three games. He's hit .333 with two homers in seven games this year against the Indians, with whom he spent his first 7 1/2 seasons.
The Tigers hope Doug Fister (4-13, 3.59 ERA) can regroup for this start after he allowed a season-high eight runs in 5 2-3 innings of an 8-5 loss at Baltimore on Sunday. Fister is 1-1 with a 6.14 ERA in three starts since being acquired from Seattle at the trade deadline.
The right-hander is 0-1 with a 2.81 ERA in three starts against the Indians this season. He allowed two runs and four hits in two innings before a lengthy rain delay ended his night in a 3-2, 14-inning loss at Cleveland on Aug. 9.
Shin-Soo Choo and Asdrubal Cabrera are a combined 10 for 25 against Fister, but the pair went 1 for 7 on Friday. Choo had one of five hits for the Indians, who missed a chance to win three straight for the first time since June 29-July 2.
Scheduled Cleveland starter David Huff (1-1, 0.51) takes the ball after he faced one batter out of the bullpen and surrendered the winning hit in an 8-7, 14-inning loss at Chicago on Tuesday.
Huff, however, has given up three runs - one earned - in three starts during two stints with the Indians this season. In his most recent start, Huff allowed an unearned run and three hits while striking out six in five innings but did not factor in the decision of a 3-2 loss at Boston on Aug. 2.
The left-hander is 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA in two starts versus Detroit - both in 2010.
Huff could face former Tigers All-Star Brandon Inge, who was recalled from Triple-A Toledo after Friday's game and is 2 for 5 with a double against him. Designated for assignment last month after hitting .177 with one homer in 70 games, Inge will platoon with Wilson Betemit at third base.
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