Cleveland Indians’ bats awaken in victory over Tigers: Recap and MVP

It was a big night for the Cleveland Indians offense as they scored 10 runs to down the Tigers in the first game of a three-game weekend set.

After being held to just three runs in two games against the Cubs earlier this week, the Cleveland Indians offense exploded Friday as they defeated the Detroit Tigers in the first of a three-game weekend series at Comerica Park.

After a quiet first inning, Franmil Reyes opened the scoring in the top of the second as he launched a 462-foot bomb off of Tigers starter Ivan Nova to give the Indians an early 2-0 lead.

Detroit would answer back in the top of the inning as Jeimer Candelario hit a leadoff triple off Cleveland starting pitcher Aaron Civale and scored on a Willi Castro sacrifice-fly to cut the Indians lead to 2-1.

The Tigers would take the lead in the bottom of the third as Niko Goodrum ripped a two-run home run off of Civale to put Detroit on top 3-2.

Cleveland would answer back in the top of the fourth with a monster inning. Reyes tied the game at three with an RBI single and Tyler Naquin hit into a fielder’s choice to score Carlos Santana to put the Indians on top 4-3. The big blow, however, was a three-run home run from Domingo Santana to put the Tribe on top 7-3.

The Indians would tack on a sixth run of the inning a few batters later as Jose Ramirez plated Delino DeShields with a ground ball to put the Tribe up 8-3.

Detroit would get a run back at the bottom of the sixth as Austin Romine hit an RBI single off Civale, but the Cleveland right-hander would strand runners on first and second to keep the score at 8-4.

Civale would finish his night after six innings of four-run ball, with eight hits allowed and three strikeouts.

In the top of the seventh, the Indians added onto their lead as Naquin ripped a two-run triple off Kyle Funkhouser to extend the Cleveland lead 10-4.

The Tigers would score a fifth run in the ninth as Cameron Maybin took Dominic Leone deep, but the Indians would hold onto win the game 10-5.

With the victory, the Indians improved to 11-9 on the year and are now just a game and a half behind the Twins for first place in the AL Central. Detroit is now 9-8 and is two games behind Minnesota.

MVP, Franmil Reyes: The Indians got a big night out of slugger Franmil Reyes as the designated hitter went 2-4 with three RBI’s and smashed his third home run of the season in the Cleveland win.

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On Deck: The Indians will be back in action Saturday when they send Shane Bieber to the mound to face off with Detroit’s Spencer Turnbull. First pitch is scheduled for 6:10 p.m. EST at Comerica Park.