Lowe struggles again for Indians

Associated Press

cleveland

Justin Verlander isn’t the only hard-throwing pitcher in Detroit’s rotation.

Max Scherzer is making opponents take notice that the Tigers have another formidable starter for the rest of the American League to worry about.

Scherzer (10-5) allowed two runs over seven innings to win his fourth straight decision and the Tigers beat the Cleveland Indians for only the second time in eight games this season with a 5-3 victory Wednesday night.

“Max’s ceiling is very high,” manager Jim Leyland said. “He has a chance to get better and better.”

Scherzer, whose only mistake came on Casey Kotchman’s two-run homer in the third, isn’t too bad now. He held the Indians to three hits, struck out eight and walked four. Scherzer has won nine of his last 11 decisions and has struck out 35 in 32 innings during his winning streak. He also won for the first time in five career starts at Progressive Field.

Scherzer grew stronger as the game went on. He retired 13 of the last 15 he faced and needed only five pitches to get through the seventh.

“You can really judge your outing on your last 15 pitches,” he said. “I finished the game really well. I had a good fifth inning, a good sixth inning and I got through the seventh. That helped keep the momentum on our side and I was able to get the game to the bullpen.”

The Indians, who will face Verlander in today’s series finale, were duly impressed.

“We couldn’t do much against Scherzer,” manager Manny Acta said. “He beat us all night with his fastball.”

Joaquin Benoit pitched the eighth and Jose Valverde gave up Travis Hafner’s one-out homer in the ninth before recording his 19th save in 23 chances.

Quintin Berry had three hits and drove in two runs for the Tigers, who have won 14 of 17 and remained tied for first in the AL Central with Chicago. The third-place Indians fell four games out.

Derek Lowe (8-9) allowed five runs in six innings, but wasn’t helped by shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera’s throwing errors on back-to-back plays that allowed two runs to score in the second.

Lowe, the Indians’ best pitcher the first two months of the season, is 2-8 with a 7.59 ERA in his last 12 starts. The 39-year-old right-hander was 6-1 with a 2.05 ERA in his first eight outings but has been rocked since, allowing 89 hits and 54 earned runs in 64 innings.

“I’ve pitched worse than this, believe it or not, even though you guys didn’t see it,” Lowe said. “I’ve struggled numerous times in my career, but by no means do you go out there and not think you’re going to get the job done.”