Sold Out Crows Silenced As Indians Blanked By Tigers 7-0

In front of a sold out crowd of 40,167 the Cleveland Indians dropped the opening game of a 4-game series with the Detroit Tigers by a final score of 7-0.  The loss is the Indians 3rd in a row and drops their record to 45-41. It was the Tigers 4th win in  a row and their record improves to 47-38.

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Justin Masterson (10-7, 3.78 ERA) took the loss and was roughed up by the Tigers who knocked him out in 4.2 innings in which he gave up 6R/ER on 7 hits striking out 6 and walking 4.

Normally, the Indians clubhouse is not a source of controversy but after the game a comment by Justin Masterson seemed to irk two reporters that are held in high regard for being level headed in their reporting.

After the game both T.J. Zuppe and Jordan Bastian commented negatively about Masterson joking in the locker room:

The story of the game was the inability for Indians pitchers to escape damage with 2-outs in an inning. Entering the game Tribe pitchers had given up the 3rd most 2-out runs in the American League and the 2-out bug bit them again as the Tigers scored 6 of their 7 runs with 2-outs in the inning.

In the 2nd inning Masterson allowed a 2-out bases loaded single to Ramon Santiago which scored 2-runs. In the 5th inning he allowed a 2-out RBI single to Victor Martinez and a 2-RBI double to Jhonny Peralta. In the 7th inning Joe Martinez allowed a 2-out RBI single to Victor Martinez.

Rich Hill relieved Masterson in the top of the 5th with 2-outs and delivered 1.1 innings of scoreless relief turning the ball over to Joe Martinez in the top of the 7th.  Martinez worked 3 innings allowing just 1R/ER on 2-hits. After the game Terry Francona announced the Martinez would be sent to Columbus to make room for tomorrows starter Carlos Carrasco. 

Rick Porcello (5-6, 4.82 ERA) got the victory for the Tigers shutting the Indians out for 7 innings allowing 5 hits striking out 6, walking 2, and recording 9 groundball outs and only 1 fly out. Of the 6 hits allowed 5 were singles – the only extra-base hit was a double by Lonnie Chisenhall.

Al Albuquerque followed Porcello to the mound and struck out the side in the 8th. Bruce Rondon came in to work a scoreless 9th to complete the shutout of the Indians. 

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The Indians and Tigers will meet tomorrow at 4:o5 p.m. The Indians will send Carlos Carrasco (0-3, 8.17 ERA) looking for his first victory on the year against the Tigers Anibal Sanchez (6-5, 2.76 ERA).