Jiminez, Kipnis lead Indians in rout of Detroit

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Ubaldo Jimenez showed why Cleveland traded for him, winning his home debut, and rookie Jason Kipnis went 5-for-5 with four runs and three RBIs as the Indians shaved another game off Detroit’s lead in the AL Central by beating the Tigers 10-3 on Wednesday night.

With its 13th straight win at Progressive Field over Detroit, Cleveland closed within two games of first place — and the Indians will have a chance to sweep the Tigers for the second time this year. That is, if they can beat Justin Verlander tonight.

Jimenez (1-0), acquired in a blockbuster deal from Colorado at the trading deadline, allowed three runs and six hits in eight power-packed innings. He struck out six and walked one.

Kipnis hit a two-run homer off Rick Porcello (11-7) in the second. He added three singles, a double and became the first Cleveland rookie in 59 years to get five hits and score four times. Jim Fridley did it on April 11, 1952, at Philadelphia.

Indians manager Manny Acta is convinced Jimenez, who he referred to as “The Big U,” has the “stuff to be a No. 1 starter. The guy that gets everyone’s attention.”

He’s certainly put the rest of the AL on notice.

With Jimenez, Justin Masterson and Josh Tomlin, the Indians have a trio of starters that could do serious damage in the postseason — providing they can pass the Tigers, hold on and get there.

Jimenez, who got a no-decision at Texas last week, had the Tigers tamed from the outset.

Kipnis’ sixth homer in just 58 career at-bats — a towering shot that sailed just inside the right-field foul pole — gave the Indians, who won the series opener in 14 innings, a 4-0 lead in the second.

But the Tigers, limited to two hits through three innings, began to figure out Jimenez.

They rallied with two outs to score three runs in the fourth, but the Indians responded with four runs of their own. Lou Marson had a leadoff double, and one out later, Kipnis hit an RBI single. Asdrubal Cabrera followed with a single and Kipnis never hesitated as he rounded second, forcing center fielder Dirks to rush a wild throw to third that wound up in the camera bay next to Cleveland’s dugout.

Indians 3, Tigers 2, 14 innings

Detroit reliever David Pauley hit Kosuke Fukudome with the bases loaded in the 14th inning to score Asdrubal Cabrera in Tuesday’s a rain-delayed game. Pauley (5-5) walked Cabrera with one out before Travis Hafner ripped a single past second baseman Carlos Guillen, sending Cabrera to third. The Tigers intentionally walked Carlos Santana to load the bases and face Fukudome, who was drilled in the arm on a 1-2 pitch.