Santana homers to help ruin Verlander’s return

Associated Press

DETROIT

Carlos Carrasco and the Cleveland Indians spoiled the return of Detroit Tigers starter Justin Verlander.

Carlos Santana homered and Carrasco shook off a bad history in Detroit to lift the Indians to a 5-4 victory Saturday.

Carrasco (8-5), who started the game 1-4 with a 9.45 ERA in six outings at Comerica Park, struck out eight and allowed three runs and seven hits in 52/3 innings to help disappoint a sellout crowd that turned out for Verlander’s season debut.

The former MVP and Cy Young award winner, who had been on the disabled list with a right triceps strain since the start of the season, left with a 3-2 lead after pitching five innings. But reliever Blaine Hardy (2-1) was tagged for two runs in the sixth that gave the Indians the lead for good.

Detroit’s J.D. Martinez led off the eighth with a homer off Bryan Shaw before Cleveland’s Cody Allen pitched the final 11/3 innings for his 14th save in 15 chances.

Verlander allowed one baserunner through the first three innings but gave up a homer to Santana to open the fourth. He loaded the bases with one out in the fifth but only allowed Jason Kipnis’ sacrifice fly to keep the lead.

“We’re really grateful to have him back,” Martinez said. “It just looked like he was out there and he was throwing strikes, getting ahead of guys and making good pitches when he needed to.

“It was just unfortunate we couldn’t get that win for him today but I think he pitched really well and I’m excited for the future for the rest of the season.”

Verlander’s hardest pitch was timed at 97 mph and manager Brad Ausmus said he thought about sending him back out for the sixth with his pitch count at 87.

“I think it was a good first outing, good first step and I’m sure as we move deeper into the season he’s going to pitch longer, he’s going to probably be sharper, maybe have an off day here or there,” Ausmus said. “I think in fairly short order, he’ll be back up to his 110-120 pitches.”

Verlander, scheduled to make his second start Thursday at Cincinnati, was excited to return but added he felt a bit tired in the fifth.

“It was nice to be back out there. Felt good to be on a big-league mound. Felt pretty good overall,” he said. “The rhythm wasn’t quite there, but overall I felt pretty good. Hopefully, the body and arm respond well moving forward.

“I think it was just exerting more energy than I have yet. I wouldn’t say that I was completely tired, but I could tell that I was putting more into it than I had at any point in my rehab.”

Rajai Davis tripled to open the Tigers’ first and came home on Miguel Cabrera’s single. Carrasco loaded the bases later in the inning but escaped further trouble by striking out the next two.

“It was really important,” Carrasco said. “It’s a tough lineup and I just follow every hit like it’s my last and that worked today.”

LINDOR’S TIME

The Indians plan to promote top prospect Francisco Lindor from Triple-A Columbus today. The 21-year-old shortstop was a first-round draft pick in 2011.

UP NEXT

Cy Young winner Corey Kluber (3-6, 3.61) gets the ball for Cleveland today. He’ll face RHP Alfredo Simon (6-3, 2.76).