Perez gets a save and cheers

By Paul Hoynes

Cleveland Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND

Closer Chris Perez, three days after criticizing Tribe fans for not coming to Progressive Field, earned his 14th straight save Tuesday night as the Indians ended a 10-game losing streak against Detroit with a 5-3 victory.

Perez, in typical tightrope fashion, put runners on first and third before striking out Miguel Cabrera and inducing Prince Fielder to hit into a force play at second base to end it.

The victory moved the first-place Tribe four games ahead of the third-place Tigers in the American League Central. The White Sox, in second, fell 31/2 games back with a 9-2 loss to the Twins.

Perez received a standing ovation from the crowd of 15,049 when he ran in from the bullpen, but the cheers turned to scattered boos when he walked Ramon Santiago and gave up a single to Andy Dirks to put runners on the corners with one out.

The cheers returned when Perez struck out Cabrera and got Fielder to hit into the final out at third base.

“I’m truly humbled,” Perez said of the ovation he received. “I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know which way it would go. But I’m humbled.”

Ubaldo Jimenez (4-3) went six innings for the victory. He improve to 3-5 lifetime against Detroit.

Jimenez, despite walking six, allowed just three runs in six innings. The six walks tied a season high, while the three earned runs tied the second fewest he’s allowed in nine starts this year.

Casey Kotchman and Jose Lopez gave the Indians a 5-3 lead in the sixth off Rick Porcello (3-4). Michael Brantley opened with a single and stole second. Kotchman singled to center for a 4-3 lead.

Porcello moved Kotchman to second with an errant pickoff attempt at first. Lopez, the only pure right-handed hitter in the Tribe’s lineup, brought him home with a double off Brennan Boesch’s glove in right field.

Lopez’s double ended Porcello’s night. Porcello allowed five runs — four earned — on eight hits.