Tigers rough up Lowe, avoid sweep

Associated Press

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Derek Lowe’s rough day on the mound was only the beginning of his problems.

“I gave up seven runs, which isn’t good, plus I have a lot of family here, and now I have to face them,” the Cleveland right-hander said. “That won’t be fun.”

Lowe allowed seven runs and nine hits in his return to Michigan, and the Indians fell 7-5 to the Detroit Tigers on Thursday. Detroit avoided a three-game sweep and beat Cleveland for the first time in six meetings this year.

Miguel Cabrera homered, Brennan Boesch broke out of a slump with a pair of hits and Casey Crosby earned his first major league win for the Tigers. Cleveland nearly rallied from a 7-1 deficit but, with the Tigers leading by two, the Indians left the bases loaded in the seventh and two on in the eighth.

“It was a good series overall, but seven was just too many for us today,” Cleveland manager Manny Acta said. “Our offense did a great job of battling back. We had a couple times where we just needed one more hit.”

Crosby (1-1) allowed three runs and five hits in 51/3 innings in his second career start. Jose Valverde pitched a perfect ninth for his 10th save in 13 chances.

Lowe (7-4) grew up in nearby Dearborn, but any hope of a nice homecoming against the Tigers slipped away quickly. He gave up four runs in the first and three in the fourth.

It was his second poor outing in three starts. He allowed eight runs against the Chicago White Sox on May 26.

“They had the same approach against me as the White Sox — they came out ultra-aggressive in the first inning and they took advantage of some bad pitches,” Lowe said. “It doesn’t matter how long I’ve been playing, or how much success I’ve had, I’m the same as a rookie. When people start hitting me, I have to make an adjustment.”

Boesch’s single in the first put runners on first and third with nobody out, ending a 2-for-38 stretch for the big right fielder. Prince Fielder, Delmon Young and Don Kelly hit RBI singles, and another run came home on a wild pitch.