Tigers’ Lead Gets Smaller by the Loss

If they’re not careful, the Detroit Tigers are going to get caught by their tails.

Rookie Joe Inglett’s two-run triple off Justin Verlander highlighted Cleveland’s six-run fifth inning that sent the Indians to an 8-5 win Saturday night over the Tigers, who have lost four straight and lead the American League Central by four games.

The Tigers led the division by 10 games on Aug. 7. But after losing seven of nine and going 5-13 since Aug. 9, their lead is less than five games for the first time since July 19.

“We’re just in one of those little streaks right now,” Manager Jim Leyland said. “You pitch good and you don’t hit or you hit and don’t pitch good. That’s not a combination conducive to winning games. It’s going to happen when you play 162.”

Jake Westbrook (11-8) gutted out seven innings, giving up five runs and 12 hits to win for the fourth time in five starts.

Jason Michaels had three hits off Verlander (15-7) and scored twice for the Indians, who have won eight straight at Jacobs Field.

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ROUNDUP

Minnesota 8, at Chicago 7: Nick Punto hit a run-scoring single with two out in the 11th, and the Twins increased their wild-card lead to 1 1/2 games by beating the White Sox. Jermaine Dye’s two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth against Minnesota closer Joe Nathan tied it at 7-7, but the Twins used a small-ball approach to push across the game winner against Matt Thornton (4-2). Pinch-hitter Lew Ford led off the 11th with a single, moved to second on Jason Bartlett’s sacrifice and to third on Luis Castillo’s grounder. Punto then hit the ball the other way past diving Chicago first baseman Ross Gload to score Ford.

Oakland 5, at Texas 3: Joe Blanton (14-10) pitched strongly again and Nick Swisher homered to hand the Rangers the fifth loss in their last nine games. The Athletics, a major-league best 18-5 in August, end their 10-game trip today before playing nine straight at home.

at Seattle 4, Boston 3: Pinch-hitter Ben Broussard hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the eighth inning to help hand the Red Sox their 10th loss in their last 13 games.

Kansas City 2, at Toronto 0: Runelvys Hernandez (4-8) outpitched Roy Halladay for his first shutout. Mark Teahen and Ryan Shealy homered for Kansas City. Halladay (16-4) lost despite pitching a four-hitter in his fourth complete game of the season.

at Baltimore 3, Tampa Bay 2: Ramon Hernandez singled in the winning run with two out in the ninth inning to lift the Orioles. It was the ninth straight road loss for the Devil Rays, who went hitless over the last three innings and fell to 1-17 on the road since the All-Star break.