Tigers dominate Indians again

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

If there’s one ballpark Detroit doesn’t mind visiting it is Progressive Field.

It’s become a home away from home for the Tigers.

Yoenis Cespedes drove in three runs, Miguel Cabrera reached base four times and the Tigers continued to push Cleveland around, beating the Indians 8-5 on Monday night.

Cespedes hit an RBI double off Trevor Bauer (6-4) in the first inning, homered in the third and added a sacrifice fly in Detroit’s four-run fourth as the Tigers improved to 8-2 against the Indians this season — 4-0 in Cleveland — and 34-14 since the start of 2013.

Detroit has won 15 of the last 18 against Cleveland and improved to 19-5 in the Indians’ downtown home the past three seasons. The Tigers are 10-1 in their past 11 games on the corner of Carnegie and Ontario.

“We know we’re not going to go 162-0, but mentally, maybe, we feel more comfortable in this park,” Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez said. “I don’t know, honestly, why everyone seems to like to hit here. I guess it’s just one of those things in baseball that you can’t really explain.”

Cabrera walked twice, once with the bases loaded, singled twice and remained a mystery to Cleveland pitchers. He’s batting .649 (24 of 37) with five homers and 16 RBIs against the Indians this year.

Martinez followed the fourth-inning walk to Cabrera with a two-run single to make it 6-3.

Blaine Hardy (3-1) replaced starter Kyle Ryan in the fourth and pitched 2 1-3 hitless innings.

Detroit manager Brad Ausmus was reluctant to discuss his team’s dominance against the Indians.

“I really can’t answer that,” he said.

“I wasn’t here for [one] of those seasons, so I’m not sure why it’s been that way. We just seem to play well against them.”

Jason Kipnis had two RBIs, and David Murphy and Roberto Perez homered for the Indians.

The Tigers snapped a 3-all tie by scoring four in the fourth to chase Bauer, who matched a career worst by allowing seven runs and nine hits in three-plus innings.

The quirky right-hander was coming off a strong outing against the Cubs, but struggled with an unrelenting lineup that has few holes.

Detroit loaded the bases on two singles and a walk, bringing up the dangerous Cabrera.

“He spooks me,” said Indians manager Terry Francona, who joked before the game that he has even wiggled his fingers at the slugger, trying to hex him at the plate.

“I’ve tried everything.”