Pavano strong in Indians’ victory

DETROIT (AP) — Carl Pavano pitched 71‚Ñ3 effective innings and the Cleveland Indians held off the Detroit Tigers 6-5 on Friday night.

Pavano (1-3), who made his longest start since a shutout win at Seattle on May 17, 2005, left with Cleveland leading 6-1 in the eighth inning. He was pulled for reliever Rafael Perez after giving up two doubles in the eighth, including Adam Everett’s that gave the Tigers’ their first run. Placido Polanco followed with an RBI single that made it 6-2.

Reliever Jensen Lewis later gave up Miguel Cabrera’s fifth homer of the season, a three-run shot that cut the lead to 6-5.

The Indians got out of the inning and Kerry Wood pitched a scoreless ninth for his fifth save and as many chances.

After four injury riddled seasons with the New York Yankees, Pavano showed the kind of stuff that made him a 2004 NL all-star with Florida. He had just three strikeouts but just one Tiger to reach second base in the first seven innings. By that time, the lineup had given him a six-run cushion.

Cleveland’s Jhonny Peralta ended an 0-for-8 skid with an RBI single and solo homer in his first two at-bats. The first hit came during the Indians’ four-run second inning.

Peralta added his first home run of the season in the fourth off Armando Galarraga (3-1), who lost for the first time this season after lasting just five innings.

Galarraga, who had an 0.68 ERA in his first two starts at Comerica Park, allowed five runs in the first three innings — matching the total he’d allowed in his first four outings. The right-hander, who led all AL rookies with 13 wins last season, was pulled after throwing 94 pitches.

Peralta, Grady Sizemore, Asdrubal Cabrera and Victor Martinez drove in runs during the second and Kelly Shoppach added an RBI single in the seventh off reliever Nate Robertson.

Peralta’s third-inning homer was his 86th with the Indians, moving him ahead of Woodie Held for sole possession of the club’s career record for a shortstop.

Notes

The Indians recalled outfielder David Dellucci and optioned left-hander Rich Rundles to Triple-A Columbus before the game. Dellucci went 4-for-5 with two doubles and scored a run as the designated hitter in his first game of the season. ... Light rain showers delayed the start of the game 43 minutes.