After crucial win, Indians stumble

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

The Cleveland Indians finally got back to .500 after winning the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader against Detroit. They fell under the break-even mark about four hours later.

Cody Anderson out-pitched Justin Verlander for the second time in a week in a 7-2 win in Game 1, moving the Indians to .500 for the first time since the fourth game of the season.

That momentum stalled as Game 2 starter Trevor Bauer didn’t record an out in the fourth inning in a 9-2 loss.

“It stinks from the team perspective,” said Bauer, who was charged with six runs in three-plus innings. “Wins are at a premium for us right now. I feel like I need to perform better to help the team.”

The Indians (70-71) fell 4 1/2 games behind Texas in the AL wild-card race after Game 2.

After Cleveland rallied for a 7-5 win Thursday night, the teams were rained out Friday, forcing the doubleheader, and again Saturday, a game that hasn’t been rescheduled.

“I don’t think you get rained out twice too often, but that’s OK,” manager Terry Francona said. “It’s not that big a deal. The first game we out-played them and the second game they out-played us. I don’t think the weather had anything to do with that.”

The Tigers salvaged something from the long weekend after falling behind 2-0 in Game 2.

“You win the first game and get an early lead in the second game, to not be able to at least protect that lead or keep it close is frustrating,” Bauer said.

J.D. Martinez drove in three runs, and the Tigers scored four times in the fourth inning.

Drew VerHagen (1-0) worked two scoreless innings for his first major league win after starter Randy Wolf threw 93 pitches in three innings.

Bauer (11-12) was pulled after the first five hitters in the fourth reached base.

Martinez, who was 3 for 5, tied the game with a two-run single in the second. Rajai Davis and Dixon Machado each drove in two runs for the Tigers, who had lost 16 of 21.

Wolf labored through a 50-pitch first inning, but gave up only two runs. Ryan Raburn had an RBI single and Giovanny Urshela drew a bases-loaded walk.

Martinez’s two-run single with the bases loaded tied the game in the third. Machado’s double, his first career RBI, put Detroit ahead. Davis followed with a two-run single before Miguel Cabrera’s double-play grounder added another run.

Anderson (4-3) allowed two runs in 5 2-3 innings. Francisco Lindor, another rookie who has helped Cleveland get back in the playoff race, broke a 1-all tie with a two-run single in the fifth.

Verlander (3-8) gave up four runs in six innings.

Anderson said it was a rush facing the former AL MVP and Cy Young Award winner.

“You definitely see him out there on the mound and watched him in college and growing up,” said Anderson, who pitched seven shutout innings against the Tigers a week ago. “It’s exciting. Anytime you’re in a tight game and Verlander’s on the mound, you don’t want to give up any runs.”