Tribe slips past Tigers

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Aaron Cunningham ignored the squeeze on his job and instead put one on the Cleveland Indians’ division rival.

His job in jeopardy after a trade earlier in the day, Cunningham bunted home the go-ahead run with a squeeze play, and the Indians beat Detroit 3-2 Tuesday night and moved within three games of the AL Central-leading Tigers.

“I can’t worry about anything there except executing the play,” said Cunningham, whose role as utility outfielder may come to an end tonight as the Indians need to drop a player to make room for veteran utilityman Brent Lillibridge.

Cleveland acquired Lillibridge from Boston before the game, which turned out to be an exciting victory for the third-place Indians.

“It’s a huge win,” said Travis Hafner, who tripled with one out in the seventh inning off Doug Fister (4-7) and the score tied at two.

Lou Marson pinch ran for Hafner and took off for home as Cunningham, a defensive replacement hitting .175, dropped a bunt in front of the plate. Fister quickly got the ball and tried to shovel it to catcher Alex Avila. It rolled away, Marson scored, and Cunningham took second on the error.

Miguel Cabrera’s two-run homer off reliever Joe Smith (6-2) tied it at 2 in the top half.

“It was like my big truck was sitting on top of me and somebody lifted it off,” Smith said of earning the win after blowing the shutout. “This was a total team win. The guys bounced right back after I messed up.”

Chris Perez pitched the ninth for his 28th save in 30 chances.

Cleveland is 6-1 against the Tigers. Perez has saved each win. Five have been by two runs or fewer.

Vinnie Pestano pitched a scoreless eighth for Cleveland, which is 29-3 when the right-hander and Perez have been in the same game. The Indians are 20-45 in all other games.

Indians manager Manny Acta said confidence in the two relievers led to choosing to squeeze.

“If we take the lead, our chances are very good of winning with Pestano and Perez,” Acta said. “Aaron executed very well, didn’t give it away. Then Pestano and Perez took care of business.”

Cunningham was elated to help.

“I’ll do anything I can for this team because they’ve treated me great all year,” he said.