Indians’ Masterson outduels Tigers’ Verlander

Photo

Photo by: Associated Press

Cleveland starting pitcher Justin Masterson

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

After the final out, closer Chris Perez let out a primal scream and punched the air in celebration.

The Cleveland Indians, overlooked and underappreciated — even by many of their own skeptical fans — had swept three straight from the Detroit Tigers and their high-priced lineup.

Maybe the AL Central will be a race after all.

Unless the Indians run away with it.

Justin Masterson matched Justin Verlander pitch for pitch for first his career win over Detroit, and the first-place Indians did just enough to beat the reigning AL MVP 2-1 Thursday and complete a three-game sweep of the underperforming Tigers.

Shin-Soo Choo homered on the third pitch from Verlander (5-2) as the Indians won for the eighth time in 10 games and opened a six-game lead over third-place Detroit.

“This is huge for the team,” said Perez, who saved all three games in the series after putting pressure on himself by ripping Cleveland fans for not supporting their team. “We played good ball these last three games.”

Meanwhile, the Tigers have dropped six of eight, and manager Jim Leyland wasn’t around to see the final four innings after being ejected.

Detroit stranded 30 runners in the series and went just 3 of 28 (.107) with runners in scoring position. Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder and Delmon Young, the Tigers’ 3-4-5 hitters, went a combined 0 for 12 with runners at second or third.

“We’re not scoring,” Leyland said. “We’re not swinging. That pretty much sums it up. I don’t know what else to tell you. I’d love to have something juicy for you, but I don’t.”

Jose Lopez hit an RBI single in the fourth off Verlander and the Indians played solid defense, moving eight games over .500.