Tigers smack ball around, earn split of Indians doubleheader

CLEVELAND The Detroit Tigers split a traditional doubleheader against the Indians.

By taking the second game, 9-2, Sunday night at Progressive Field, the Tigers avoided being swept in the series. The teams were supposed to play four games but Saturday’s game was postponed due to rain. It probably won’t be made up unless the Indians have a chance to make the playoffs.

J.D. Martinez went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and Nick Castellanos went 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Rajai Davis (two RBIs), Alex Avila and Dixon Machado each had two hits as the Tigers outhit the Indians, 15-5.

Tigers right-hander Drew VerHagen earned his first major league win, pitching two innings in relief and allowing just two walks.

The teams were tied, 2-2, before the Tigers scored four runs in the fourth off Bauer.

Machado’s first RBI in the majors, a double to center, gave the Tigers a 3-2 lead in the fourth. The Tigers went on to add a two-run single by Davis and Romine came home when Miguel Cabrera grounded into a 6-4-3 double play.

Bauer allowed five consecutive batters to reach base with no outs singles by Castellanos and Avila, Machado’s double, a walk to Romine and Davis’ two-run single.

Right-hander Ryan Webb replaced Bauer and gave up a single to Tyler Collins, loading the bases with none out for Cabrera.

Bauer allowed six runs on seven hits and three walks in three-plus innings with five strikeouts for the Indians.

The Tigers another run in the fifth to take a 7-2 lead. Victor Martinez scored when Machado grounded into a force out. Machado suffered a lower-body injury running to first and was replaced by Josh Wilson.

A double to left by J.D. Martinez scored Collins in the sixth inning. An RBI single by Romine in the seventh extended the Tigers’ lead to 9-2.

The offense helped bail out Randy Wolf, who threw 93 pitches over three innings of work. He allowed two runs on four hits and four walks with three strikeouts.

Wolf struggled early, needing 50 pitches to get out of the first inning. Wolf gave up three singles, two walks, two runs and a wild pitch in the first, which also featured repeated visits to the mound by catcher Alex Avila and one by pitching coach Jeff Jones.

Ex-Tiger Ryan Raburn drove in the first run on a single on a line drive to center. Wolf gave up a bases loaded walk to Giovanny Urshela to give the Indians a 2-0 lead.

The Tigers, trailing 2-0 in the third inning, had the bases loaded with one out. Bauer got Cabrera to strike out swinging at a 93 mph fastball. J.D. Martinez followed with a two-out, two-run single to right to tie the game.

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