Tigers tame Tribe; Pirates fall

Associated Press

DETROIT

Wilson Betemit hit a 423-foot home run in his first game back from left knee soreness, and the Detroit Tigers beat the Cleveland Indians 9-6 on Tuesday night.

Betemit hadn’t played since Sept. 16, and manager Jim Leyland said Monday he was concerned about the third baseman. But Betemit was in the lineup Tuesday, and he gave AL Central champion Detroit a 4-0 lead in the second inning with the towering homer to right field.

The Tigers entered the day one game behind AL West champion Texas, which played at Los Angeles on Tuesday night. Detroit needs to finish at least even with the Rangers to have home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Detroit’s Max Scherzer (15-9) allowed four runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings, striking out seven in his final tuneup for the postseason. Jose Valverde pitched the ninth, earning his 48th save in as many chances.

Jeanmar Gomez (5-3) allowed eight runs and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings. He had won his previous five starts.

Jim Thome hit an RBI double in the seventh.

Brewers 6, Pirates 4

MILWAUKEE

The Brewers’ Prince Fielder homered three times in a game for the first time in his career, including a two-run shot in the seventh inning.

Fielder’s final homer was the least impressive of the three, barely sailing over the wall in right field after he hit monster shots in the third and fifth innings. But it was the last one that made the biggest difference, breaking a 4-4 tie.

With the win, the Brewers crept closer to securing home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs.