CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Right-hander Alfredo Simon allowed two hits in seven innings and J.D. Martinez and Tyler Collins homered as the Detroit Tigers defeated the Cleveland Indians, 6-0, Saturday night at Comerica Park in Detroit. Tribe righty Danny Salazar gave up the six runs in 3 2/3 innings. Here is a capsule look at the game after DVR review...

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Right-hander Alfredo Simon allowed two hits in seven innings and J.D. Martinez and Tyler Collins homered as the Detroit Tigers defeated the Cleveland Indians, 6-0, Saturday night at Comerica Park in Detroit. Tribe righty Danny Salazar gave up the six runs in 3 2/3 innings.

Here is a capsule look at the game after DVR review of the Fox SportsTime Ohio telecast:

One word: Brutal.

Stumbling at the worst time: The Indians (65-69) have lost three of four when they can ill-afford to lose three of four. They are barely relevant in the race for the second AL wild card -- 6.0 games behind the Texas Rangers, with traffic in front.

Missed opportunity: The Indians absolutely need to win when the pitching matchup is Salazar vs. Simon, especially given the disheveled state of the Tigers (62-73). But it didn't come close to happening.

Now the Indians are in danger of losing the series because they face righty Justin Verlander, who has been pitching well, Sunday afternoon.

Nothing doing: Salazar, coming off a fantastic performance against the powerhouse Blue Jays at Toronto, turned in a clunker. It means his past four starts have been excellent (at Boston), bad (at Yankees), excellent and bad.

Against the Tigers, Salazar allowed eight hits, walked one and struck out a season-low one.

Yes, Salazar (12-8, 3.54 ERA) did not give himself much time to strike out many batters. But his repertoire -- specifically, the fastball -- was nowhere near good enough to pile up strikeouts, regardless.   

Salazar's fastball control and command were off throughout. Detroit did most of its damage against the fastball, including opposite-field homers by righty Martinez (two-run in third; No. 35) and lefty Collins (solo in fourth; No. 3).

When Tyler Collins delivers an oppo taco, the pitcher must figure he is not long for the game. Three batters later, Rajai Davis belted an RBI triple to make it 5-0. Salazar exited in favor of Jeff Manship.

Fashion police cry foul: Giving up an opposite-field homer to Tyler Collins is bad enough. Giving it up to Collins when the front of the uniform isn't tucked in is just plain ugly. Salazar is better than that.

Hide the eyes: Only Tribe batters know whether Simon was as dominant as his line (7 IP, 2 H, 4 BB, 5 K). Only Tribe batters know whether he is as dominant as his composite line in four starts against them this season (24 IP, 18 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 9 BB, 16 K).

Simon's scoreless streak against Cleveland has reached 15 2/3 innings.

It did not matter Saturday that Simon was coming off back-to-back bad starts, or that his ERA against the rest of the majors is north of 5.00.

Simon (12-9, 4.86) used a fastball/changeup/curve combination to handle the Indians, who, as usual, lunged at the changeup and were unable to square the curve.

Simon did receive defensive help from center fielder Davis (twice) and right fielder Martinez (once).

Miggy's world: One of these days, Indians players will stop laughing/giggling/joking with Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

Or maybe not. Probably not.

Several Tribe players, despite their team being on the short end of the scoreboard since the second inning in an enormously important game, felt the need to interact  with Miggy. Fun had by all.

Which is exactly what Miggy wants. He can be 0-for-3 with one walk and one run, as was the case Saturday, and he still owns the Indians psychologically.

Manager Terry Francona on Danny Salazar, who lasted just 3 2/3 innings against Detroit, "I thought he made a lot of mistakes." Watch video

DETROIT - The Big Pasta, aka Alfredo Simon, did it to the Indians again Saturday night.

No, the Tigers right-hander didn't serve them spaghetti and meatballs. Instead, he gave them a steady diet of 93 mph two-seam fastballs and 85 mph split-change ups that they couldn't hit with a knife, fork or bat.

Simon and the Tigers have been terrible of late, but Friday he took a no-hitter into the sixth inning on the way to beating the Indians for the fourth time this season.

Asked how Simon was able to throw seven scoreless innings against the Indians in Detroit's 6-0 victory, a frustrated Jason Kipnis said, "I'm not really sure. He's got that good split-change that he's had success with against us. He gets you to chase his pitch. Other than that, I don't know. I don't have an answer.

"It seems like a guy we should hit. But you tip your cap to him in that regard and move on."

Explanation: Simon is 4-0 with a 1.50 ERA against the Indians this season. He's 5-2 in his career against them.

Danny Salazar lasted 3 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on eight hits. As good as Simon has been against the Indians, Salazar has been that bad against the Tigers. He's 1-3 with a 6.55 ERA against Detroit this season.

On what happened Saturday night?

"I was getting behind in the count a little bit too much. I didn't have much on the ball. Everything was up in the zone."

Have the Tigers gotten in your head?

"No, not really. I like to face them. I'm a guy who likes to compete and face tough lineups and things like that. But sometimes you don't have your stuff and it's going to be tough.

"Everytime I have my stuff out there, I pitch good. Right now, they're struggling. It's frustrating when you feel good and you go out there and you can't command your pitches."

Manager Terry Francona

On Salazar's start

"I thought he made a lot of mistakes. Early on, (Ian) Kinsler had a really good at-bat and Kip (Kipnis) had the error at second base. So it was really encouraging that he came back and got Miggy (Miguel Cabrera) for a double play."

Explanation: After Kipnis made an error on Kinsler's grounder to second in the first inning; Salazar induced a double play from Cabrera to end the inning.

More Francona on Salazar.

"With two outs (in the second) they strung together some hits for a run. And then in the third inning he made some mistakes with two outs. It just seemed like he didn't have a real good off-speed pitch tonight. He just left some pitches (over the plate) that were really hittable and they left the ballpark."

Explanation: The Tigers, with two out in the second, hit three straight singles to take a 1-0 lead. James McCann singled off Salazar's foot to score Castellanos from second base.

In the third, Salazar walked Cabrera with two out and gave up a two-run homer to J.D. Martinez on a 3-2 pitch for a 4-0 lead.

In the fourth, Tyler Collins homered with one out and catcher Roberto Perez made a wild throw past first base on a slow roller by Kinsler as Rajai Davis scored from second for 6-0 lead.

Francona on whether Salazar's concentration was a problem

"I thought tonight maybe it was a little bit. There are a lot of good hitters in that lineup. And he made some mistakes and paid for them. Hopefully, he'll bounce back because he been so good. Hopefully, he bounces back because we're really counting on him."

Francona on Giovanni Soto's one-pitch big-league debut

"He looked tired so we wanted to get him out of there. You don't want guys who have never been here to sit forever. I was glad we could get him in there."

Explanation: Soto relieved Jeff Manship with two out in the fifth inning. He threw one pitch to Collins, who grounded out to first. That was the extent of his big-league debut."

The Indians just promoted Soto from Class AAA Columbus.

Catcher Roberto Perez on getting X-rayed after the game.

"I got hit by a foul tip on right arm. I'm OK."

Cut-down day provides little drama for Browns.

BEREA, Ohio - The Browns reached the mandatory limit of 53 players with few surprises and little drama.

Despite speculation the club might move Terrance West, the unpredictable second-year back remains on the roster . . .  for now. Remember those two words because rosters are working documents with revisions constantly being made. For instance, the Browns initial 53-man roster has just six offensive linemen. You can't play a game with six available offensive linemen. 

So stay tuned as teams look to fill holes with players discarded from around the league. Here's a quick breakdown of the Browns' roster. It could feature multiple changes by tomorrow as practice squads get filled out.  

Offense

Running backs

Isaiah Crowell, Terrance West, Duke Johnson, Malcolm Johnson.

Notable releases: Shaun Draughn

Comment: Health concerns of Duke Johnson are the big story here. It's clear the organization has big plans for the rookie, but hamstring and concussion problems have forced him to miss significant time. Crowell might start by default, while West is exhibiting the same inconsistencies of a year ago. The Towson product is rumored to be on the market and it wouldn't be surprising if the Browns added a veteran back in the coming days.

Receivers

Andrew Hawkins, Brian Hartline, Taylor Gabriel, Dwayne Bowe, Travis Benjamin, Marlon Moore, Terrelle Pryor.

Notable releases: Josh Lenz, Vince Mayle

Comment: It's a group long on possession receivers and short on playmakers. The Browns must hope the diminutive and speedy Gabriel can continue his development into a deep threat in his second season. Pryor is a project and potential playmaker facing a steep learning curve. Mayle a fourth-round pick, did little to warrant a roster spot and the club cut their losses -- or at least risked trying to get him to the practice squad. The Browns also probably will try to get Lenz to the practice squad.

Tight ends

Gary Barnidge, Jim Dray, E.J. Bibbs, Rob Housler.

Notable releases: None.

Comment: The undrafted Bibbs deserved a roster spot with a good camp and preseason. Still, this isn't a formidable group by most standards. Hard to believe the Browns didn't upgrade more after losing Jordan Cameron in free agency.

Offensive line

Joe Thomas, Joel Bitonio, Alex Mack, John Greco, Mitchell Schwartz, Cameron Erving.

Notable releases:.Andrew McDonald.

Comment: Unless there's an injury, the No. 19 overall pick, Erving, is about to begin the year on the bench. That's not a knock on the kid, but he remains a curious selection when the Browns needed help elsewhere on the roster.

If the starters stay healthy, the Browns should have a top-10 offensive line. As previously mentioned, there's just six OLs on the roster so the Browns will sign one or two in the coming days.

Quarterbacks

Josh McCown, Johnny Manziel

Notable releases: Thad Lewis.

Comments: Does any team talk about minimizing the importance of the quarterback more than the Browns? McCown had a decent preseason, but he must be able to make eight to 10 plays a game to give them a chance to win. The release of Thad Lewis points to Manziel's elbow being strong enough to serve as the club's backup next week in New York. Pat Devlin might return on the practice squad.

Defense

Defensive line

Randy Starks, Danny Shelton, Desmond Bryant, Xavier Cooper, Armonty Bryant, John Hughes, Jamie Meder, Billy Winn.

Notable releases: Phil Taylor, Ishmaa'ily Kitchen.

Comment: The position group most improved in the offseason must play a big role in helping stop the run a year after finishing last against the rush.  Draft picks Shelton and Cooper look like strong additions. Winn, a fourth-year veteran, entered camp on the bubble, suffered an ankle injury in the first week, but rallied to retain a spot.

Inside linebackers

Karlos Dansby, Craig Robertson, Chris Kirksey, Tank Carder

Notable releases: Seventh-round pick Hayes Pullard.

Comment: If this group is improve, Kirksey needs a breakout second season and the ageless Dansby must remain healthy.

Outside linebackers

Paul Kruger, Scott Solomon, Barkevious Mingo, Nate Orchard

Notable releases: None.

Comment: This positional group is a big cause for concern behind Kruger. Is Solomon an upgrade over Jabaal Sheard? We haven't seen enough of Orchard in the preseason to make any real assessment. Is Mingo's greatest asset going to remain his ability to drop into coverage? Lots of questions surrounding the group.

Cornerbacks

Joe Haden, Tramon Williams, K'Waun Williams, Pierre Desir, Justin Gilbert, Johnson Bademosi, Charles Gaines.

Notable releases: None.

Comment: The Browns' secondary considers itself on par with the Seahawks, perhaps just a step below. They will need another strong season to keep the club in contention from Sunday to Sunday. The biggest concern here is health, particularly with K'Waun Williams and Desir. The Browns must hope the light turns on at some point for Gilbert.

Gaines closed ground in the final weeks and made the team despite a hamstring injury. His good showing in Tampa probably prevented the team from exposing him to waivers and trying to sneak him on the practice squad. 

Safeties

Donte Whitner, Tashaun Gipson, Jordan Poyer, Ibraheim Campbell.

Notable cuts: None.

Comment: Gipson enters with ample motivation in a contract year. If he repeats last season's performance it will go a long way in making the Browns a top-3 secondary. Keep an eye on Campbell. Coaches really like him. He's studious and can hit.

Specialists

P - Andy Lee. K - Travis Coons. LS - Charley Hughlett.

Notable cuts: Carey Spear.

Comment: The Browns traded for one of the game's best punters knowing they'll probably get a lot of use out of him. Lee will have to flip the field on more than a few occasions. Lots of unknowns with Coons. The club hasn't entrusted a youngster to kick at the start of the season since Phil Dawson in 1999. Playing at the University of Washington exposed Coons to plenty of wind and rain. Hughlett had an uneventful preseason, which is a good sign.

Check out action highlights from St. Edward football’s 52-20 win against Glenville on Saturday.

LAKEWOOD, Ohio – Check out action highlights from St. Edward football’s 52-20 win against Glenville on Saturday. 

The highlight video is at the top of this post.

RELATED:Watch pregame locker room speeches by St. Edward's Tom Lombardo and Glenville's Ted Ginn Sr.

The Eagles, No. 3 in the cleveland.com Top 25, scored on every possession in the game. They led 28-0 after the first quarter and 42-6 at halftime. The No. 6 Tarblooders were outgained 568-250 on offense.

Eagles running back Cole Gest had 211 yards rushing and three touchdowns, all in the first half. Quarterback Jimmy Keefe ran and threw for touchdowns, and was 10-of-12 passing. Again, all in the first half.

Glenville’s Ju’Shaun Small might’ve had the play of the game, however, with his second-half 70-yard catch and run for a touchdown. Small spun out of a tackle and outraced everyone to the end zone.

For more high school sports news, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Contact high school sports reporter Scott Patsko on Twitter(@ScottPatsko) by email (spatsko@cleveland.com) or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

Cody Anderson will face Justin Verlander and the Tigers on Sunday at Comerica Park following his impressive six-inning performance against Toronto on Tuesday. He allowed two runs on three hits against the powerful Jays.

DETROIT -- The Indians and Tigers play the last game of their three-game set Sunday afternoon at Comerica Park.

Game No. 135: Indians (65-69), Tigers (62-72).

First pitch: 1:08 p.m.

TV/radio: SportsTime Ohio WTAM, WMMS.

Several former Ohio State players let go Sunday were brought back on practice squads.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Maybe the best way from Ohio State to making it as an NFL receiver is by playing quarterback in college.

While Terrelle Pryor survived the NFL roster cuts to a 53-man roster on Saturday, some other former Buckeyes trying to make it at receiver did not.

Duron Carter, who played for the Buckeyes as a freshman in 2009, was let go by the Indianapolis Colts. The son of OSU legend Cris Carter, he left Ohio State and bounced through some other schools before landing in the Canadian Football League for two seasons.

* Previous news on Ohio State NFL cuts 

Former OSU quarterback Troy Smith, who played with Carter with the Montreal Alouettes, told cleveland.com last year that Carter "needs to be seen on Sundays."

After he was cut and passed through waivers, the Colts did add Carter to their practice squad.

* Receiver Evan Spencer, a sixth-round pick after Urban Meyer called him Ohio State's MVP for his play last year, was cut by the Washington Redskins.

But Spencer has been sidelined while being monitored for a concussion and was "designated injured" in the final moves.

He's another practice squad candidate. 

* Glenville grad and safety Christian Bryant was cut in St. Louis. A seventh-round pick of the Rams last year, he was re-signed to St. Louis' practice squad.

* Undrafted running back Rod Smith, who was dismissed from Ohio State's team last October, was cut by the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle then brought Smith back on the practice squad.

* Fullback Zach Boren, an Ohio State captain in 2012, was cut by Tennessee.

* Tight end Jake Stoneburner, who played nine games with Green Bay in 2013, was cut by the Miami Dolphins. He was brought back on Miami's practice squad.

* Cornerback Travis Howard, who has been on the practice squads of New England and the New York Giants in his career, was placed on injured reserve by the Atlanta Falcons.

* Fourth-round pick Doran Grant, a starting cornerback and captain for the Buckeyes last year, was cut by Pittsburgh.

* Running back Dan Herron, out with a shoulder injury, was waived by Indianapolis. He gained 351 rushing yards on 78 carries for the Colts last year. If he clears waivers, he'll be added to the Colts' injured reserve.

* Also, former Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi, a former star at Lake Catholic, was cut by the New York Giants.

Updated Sunday evening with practice squad news.

Francisco Lindor leads AL rookies with a .307 batting average, ranks second in on base percentage at .346 and third in hits with 88. Overall, he leads the AL with 11 sacrifice bunts. Lindor is also hitting .353 since the All-Star break.

DETROIT -- Here are the lineups for Sunday's game between the Indians and Tigers at Comerica Park.

INDIANS

2B Jason Kipnis.

SS Francisco Lindor.

DH Michael Brantley.

1B Carlos Santana.

RF Lonnie Chisenhall.

C Yan Gomes.

CF Abraham Almonte.

3B Jose Ramirez.

LF Michael Martinez.

RHP Cody Anderson, 2-3, 4.17

TIGERS

CF Anthony Gose.

SS Dixon Machado.

DH Miguel Cabrera.

RF J.D. Martinez.

1B Victor Martinez.

3B Nick Castellanos.

LF Tyler Collins.

C James McCann.

2B Andrew Romine.

RHP Justin Verlander, 3-6, 3.40.

UMPIRES

HP Tony Randazzo.

1B Doug Eddings.

2B Adrian Johnson.

3B Hunter Wendlestedt, crew chief.

Alexus Lessears of Shaw girls basketball team commits to North Carolina A & T.

EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio – Senior forward Alexus Lessears becomes the third girls basketball player at Shaw to commit to a Division I program in the past three years.

Sunday morning Lessears announced on Twitter that she is verbally committing to play at North Carolina A&T. 

Lessears weighed offers from Winthrop, Temple, Eastern Carolina, Cincinnati and Akron. With the help of Lessears, Shaw reached the Division I Euclid District final last season before falling to Twinsburg, 32-21.

Lessears averaged 13.7 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game paired with Fredniqua Walker, who graduated last season and is playing for Akron.

“North Carolina A&T was the first team to offer her,” Shaw coach Dana Jeter said. “She is a sound defensive player who is great around the basket…they are going to get an asset to their program.”

The 6-foot-4 senior was named to the all-district and All-Ohio teams. Lessears plays for the TNBA AAU program.

When you finally a AGGIE 😌☺️ pic.twitter.com/HklfOjKp3p

— LadyCardinal (@alexusfaith_) September 6, 2015

Story will be updated once additional remarks become available.

For more high school sports news, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Contact Nathaniel Cline on Twitter (@nathanielcline), by email (ncline@cleveland.com) or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

Vote in the poll should San Antonio John Jay (Texas) football players be penalized for actions against official.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Reports of two San Antonio John Jay high school football players targeting an official has became a trending topic on the Internet.

As reported by Deadspin and DailyTrib.com Sunday morning, two defensive players from John Jay in Texas were spotted hitting an official when the team was down 15-9 late in the fourth quarter against Marble Falls.

Marble Falls went on to a take a 15-9 victory at home.

DailyTrib.com reports that the action taken on the official is under investigation.

We want you to share your thoughts.

Vote in the poll and share whether you think the two players should be penalized in the comments section below.

Whether it’s asking us questions in the comments or commenting as you check out all the high school sports content, please take advantage of the comments section and let us know your takes on local teams, players and conference/playoff predictions. 

Follow our high school sports Twitter account, @NEOVarsity for high school news and score updates. Be sure to use the hashtag #NEOVarsity to Tweet about your favorite school.

For more high school sports news, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Contact Nathaniel Cline on Twitter (@nathanielcline), by email (ncline@cleveland.com) or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.

A San Antonio School district is investigating after a football player ran into the back of a referee watching a play and another player then dove into the official after he fell. Both players were ejected.

MARBLE FALLS, Texas (AP) -- A San Antonio School district is investigating after a football player ran into the back of a referee watching a play and another player then dove into the official after he fell. Both players were ejected from the game.

Pascual Gonzalez, a spokesman for the Northside Independent School District, told The Associated Press that video of the incident was "extremely disturbing." Gonzalez said the district is investigating and will hold a due process hearing with interviews with game officials, coaches and students.

"It is not the good sportsmanlike behavior that we teach students," he said.

The team from John Jay High School in San Antonio was playing Marble Falls High School in Marble Falls, located about 90 miles north of San Antonio.

Before the referee was hit, two Jay players had been ejected on separate plays.

The incident occurred with approximately a minute left in Friday's game, according to Marble Falls coach Matt Green.

Here's the video:

Marble Falls was trying to run out the clock and called for a handoff toward the left side of the line of scrimmage, according to the San Antonio Express-News.

The penalties stemming from the incident gave Marble Falls a first down. John Jay lost 15-9.

Marble Falls coach Matt Green said John Jay coach Gary Gutierrez apologized after the game.

"I've coached 14 years and I've never seen anything like it," Green said.

Video showed the referee watching the play, and his head snapping back when he is leveled from behind. The other player then dove on top of him.

The referee was "very upset" and "wanting to press charges," Austin Football Officials Association secretary Wayne Elliott told the AP.

Elliott said he was seeking guidance from the state officials association, adding, "the first thing we want is that those two kids never play football again."

He declined to release the referee's name.

The Browns traded running back Terrance West to the Titans for a conditional 7th round pick.

CLEVELAND, Ohio --- The Browns have given up on running back Terrance West after only one season.

They traded their 2014 third-round pick out of Towson to the Titans for a conditional seventh-round pick in 2016, meaning they were willing to part with him for almost nothing.

They engaged in talks with the Cowboys on Saturday, but couldn't strike a deal.

Northeast Ohio Media Group first reported on Saturday that West was not safe heading into the final roster moves.

The Browns had grown weary of West's inconsistency on the field and felt that he still had plenty of growing up to do off the field.

The Browns will likely add another back soon, possibly bringing back Shaun Draughn, who was cut on Saturday. Draughn will likely start out on the practice squad and get elevated if necessary.

Isaiah Crowell will start against the Jets, and rookie Duke Johnson's availability is unknown. As of Friday, he was still in the concussion protocol.

Thursday night in the preseason finale in Chicago, the Browns started West alongside mostly backups, and he played extensively while Crowell got the night off with most of the rest of the veterans.

Asked Friday if West is is in good standing heading into the final cuts, coach Mike Pettine said, "Terrance has had his - it's been well documented - ups and downs. He flashes at times just brilliance and then other times where he gets a minus on the grade sheet, and that's always been some of the issues that we've had with him.

"We know he can do it. It just has to be on a more consistent basis. That's one of the reasons why we felt like he needed to get a good amount of work last night."

Pettine said last week that the Browns would consider adding a running back because of Johnson's concussion, Shaun Draughn's thumb injury and Glenn Winston's knee injury.  Now, it appears there will be sense of urgency to add one.

West rushed for 35 yards on nine carries for a 3.9-yard average in Chicago. Overall, he averaged 3.6 yards on his 31 carries this preseason.

Last season, he led the Browns with 171 rushing attempts and 673 yards, averaging 3.9 yards per carry.  He also rushed for four TDs and caught one TD pass.

The Browns also claimed offensive lineman Austin Pasztorvia via waivers from Jacksonville.  

Pasztor, originally signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2012, is in his third NFL season out of Virginia. Originally signed by Minnesota as an undrafted free agent in 2012, Pasztor has appeared in 26 games with the Jaguars.

He has started 23 career games with three starts at left guard and 20 at right tackle. Pasztor started eight games at right tackle last season. Born in Tillonsburg, Ontario, Pasztor attended Fork Union Military Academy.
 

Cody Anderson (7 IP, 2 H) and Francisco Lindor (two-run triple) propelled Cleveland Indians to 4-0 victory over Detroit Tigers on Sunday afternoon in Detroit.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Right-hander Cody Anderson pitched superbly for seven innings and Francisco Lindor hit a two-run triple as the Cleveland Indians defeated the Detroit Tigers, 4-0, Sunday afternoon at Comerica Park in Detroit. Tribe No. 9 batter Michael Martinez went 3-for-4 with one RBI and one run.

The Indians won the series, 2-1.

Here is a capsule look at the game after a DVR review of the Fox SportsTime Ohio telecast:

Clutch performance: In as close to a must-win as they have faced this season, the Indians delivered. And they defeated a longtime nemesis, Justin Verlander, who had been good-to-great in his previous five starts and seven of eight.

Verlander was good again (7 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3ER, 2 BB, 4 K), but the Tribe managed to prevail because Anderson was better (7 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K).

At the conclusion of their game, the Indians (66-69) had pulled with 5.5 games of the Texas Rangers for the second AL wild card spot. Later in the day, the deficit became 5.0 when the Rangers lost to the Angels, 7-0, in Anaheim, Calif.

Of the three teams between the Rangers and Indians, the Tribe gained on two (Minnesota Twins, 70-66; and Tampa Bay Rays, 67-69) and kept pace with the other (Angels, 69-67).

The Tigers are 62-74.

The power of the beard: For the second consecutive start, Anderson responded to a big-time road challenge when his team absolutely needed him. On Sept. 1 at Toronto, he allowed two runs on three hits in six innings of a no-decision; the Blue Jays won, 5-3.

Anderson controlled the Tigers using primarily a fastball/changeup combination. He sprinkled in cutters and breaking balls.

Anderson (3-3, 3.72 ERA) kept most of his pitches out of the middle of the plate, and plenty featured all-important late movement. He consistently stayed on top of the ball at release and finished his delivery with good extension, which enabled him to throw downhill and increase the likelihood that Detroit batters would not make solid contact.

Anderson proved that a pitcher doesn't always need to throw a high percentage of strikes in order to be successful; he was 58-of-92 for 63 percent. Yes, Anderson missed with a number of pitches that he wanted to throw for strikes. But he also periodically missed just out of the zone on-purpose, the objective being to get the batter to chase or to set up the next pitch.      

Money time: Anderson escaped jams in the fourth and fifth in order to keep the game scoreless.

Anthony Gose led off the fourth with a four-pitch walk and advanced to second on Dixon Machado's bunt single to first. Miguel Cabrera, the best hitter of his generation, grounded into a 6-4-3 double play and J.D. Martinez, who entered with 35 homers and 89 RBI, lined to center.

Victor Martinez led off the fifth with a double to right. Nick Castellanos walked after being down in the count, 1-2. Tyler Collins struck out swinging (3-2 fastball with juice) and James McCann grounded into a 4-6-3 double play (1-1 cutter off outside corner).

Bryan Shaw gave up one hit in the eighth and Cody Allen pitched a perfect ninth.

Waiting him out: Verlander (3-7, 3.43) did not allow a hit until Abraham Almonte tripled with two outs in the fifth. Almonte smoked a 2-2 fastball to center for his fifth triple in 27 games as an Indian.

Jose Ramirez grounded to short to end the threat.

The Tribe erupted for three runs in the sixth. Here is a batter-by-batter breakdown:

(L) Michael Martinez -- 0-2 curve (80), single to center.

Skinny: Indians' first leadoff runner. Verlander got too cute for his own good, opting for 0-2 curve against the No. 9 batter instead of a heater. Martinez had struck out swinging at a 2-2 fastball in the third inning.

(L) Jason Kipnis -- 3-2 changeup (84), single to second.

Skinny: Second baseman Andrew Romine made a good play up the middle and flipped to shortstop Machado. Martinez, who had been on the move, beat it. The relay was not in time, either -- although first-base umpire Doug Eddings initially called Kipnis out. The Indians won the replay challenge; if they had not, there would have been an investigation.

Indians manager Terry Francona having started Martinez proved enormous. Otherwise, the Tribe would have had a runner on first and one out.

(L) Francisco Lindor -- 91 fastball bunt foul; 92 fastball down and in; (Verlander fakes pickoff to second; Tigers call timeout and gather at mound with manager Brad Ausmus to discuss their defensive strategy; Lindor talks with third-base coach Mike Sarbaugh); 92 fastball, triple to right-center.

Skinny: At-bat of game for Tribe offense. Lindor, the American League leader in sacrifice bunts (11), did not show bunt in the 1-1 count. It paid off in a two-run hit -- Lindor's first career triple. Lindor and the Indians simply outfoxed Verlander, who threw a fastball that was designed for a bunt.

Fox SportsTime Ohio analyst Rick Manning said: "How about that? You think he's going to bunt, you throw him a nice fastball. Lindor juiced it into right field. Verlander can't believe it. I think everybody in the ballpark thought the bunt was going to be on.''

(L) Michael Brantley -- 0-1 fastball (93), pop to center.

(L) Carlos Santana -- 1-2 fastball (97), RBI single to center.

Skinny: Santana handled a crisp fastball that was up.

(L) Lonnie Chisenhall -- 0-0 changeup (85), fly to center.

(R) Yan Gomes -- 2-2 curve (80), bloop single to center.

(L) Abraham Almonte -- 1-0 changeup, pop to left.

Mr. 800: Left fielder Martinez put on a show in his third game with the Indians since his promotion from Class AAA Columbus. In his season/career with the Tribe, he is batting .800 (4-for-5) with an .800 on-base percentage and .800 slugging percentage.

All three of his hits were singles up the middle. One came using a modified butcher-boy approach -- show bunt, pull back, swing. Another drove in a run in the ninth.

Martinez also contributed with the glove. He made a running, full-extension catch near the corner to deny Romine extra bases leading off the Detroit sixth.

Spotlight on....Miguel Cabrera: Miggy, who entered with a .357 average, 17 homers and 68 RBI, went 0-for-4 as the designated hitter. Here is a breakdown of his ABs:

First inning vs. Anderson (none on, two outs) -- 90 fastball swinging strike (low); 85 changeup called strike; 93 fastball, grounder to third (down and in).

Skinny: Miggy attempted to ambush Anderson, but the first pitch wasn't a get-me-over. Third baseman Ramirez fielded the grounder well behind the bag and threw from foul territory. First baseman Santana handled a long hop.

Fourth inning vs. Anderson (runners on first and second, none out) -- 90 fastball low; 90 fastball called strike; 91 fastball inside (barely); 85 changeup swinging strike (down and in); 93 fastball, GIDP 6-4-3.

Skinny: At-bat of the game for Detroit offense. The 2-1 changeup, which featured superb late action, was the key to the AB. Cabrera, guarding against another changeup, was surprised by the fastball thigh-high and over the plate. It normally is a pitch Cabrera swats to right for damage.

Seventh inning vs. Anderson (none on, none out) -- 87 cutter outside; 91 fastball down and in (barely); 87 changeup, grounder to third.

Ninth inning vs. Allen (none on, two outs) -- 95 fastball, foul fly to right.

Skinny: Chisenhall made catch on track in corner.

Miggy finished 1-for-11 in the series.

The Browns added running back Shaun Draughn and Darius Jennings to the practice squad, but not fourth-round receiver Vince Mayle yet. They signed eight and have two spots left.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Running back Shaun Draughn and receiver Darius Jennings were two of eight players the Browns signed to their practice squad Sunday.

Fourth-round receiver Vince Mayle, first-year receiver Josh Lenz and undrafted rookie receiver Shane Wynn were not among them, but the Browns are allowed 10, so they could still add one of two of them. Mayle and Lenz, a big fan favorite, were cut on Saturday, and Wynn, the Glenville High product, was let go in the first cuts.

The Browns signed added seventh-round linebacker Hayes Pullard to the practice squad, meaning Mayle is the only one of the 12 draft picks not back with the Browns in some form.

Mayle, out of Washington State, was the highest draft pick in the league to be cut on Saturday. He is likely hoping to catch onto someone's 53-man roster before accepting a spot on a practice squad. Mayle underwent thumb surgery in May and struggled with drops in preseason.

The Browns also have not yet signed another quarterback to the active roster or the practice squad. On Saturday, they cut Pat Devlin, who's eligible for the taxi squad.

Currently, they only have two quarterbacks on the roster in Josh McCown and Johnny Manziel, who's suffering from tendinitis in his elbow. His status for next Sunday's opener against the Jets is uncertain.

The list features three offensive linemen in Erle Ladson, Andrew McDonald and Darrian Miller. Two defensive backs are back in cornerback Kendall James and safety De'Ante Saunders.

The Browns cut Draughn on Saturday, in part because he missed most of training camp with a thumb injury. But they praised him all camp and hoped to bring him back.

If Duke Johnson isn't cleared to practice this week or play against the Jets, Draughn will likely be activated. The Browns might also still look to add another back. As it stands, Isaiah Crowell will start against the Jets.

The Browns are looking to add a veteran running back a week before the opener after trading away Terrance West.

BEREA, Ohio - Two years ago, the Browns added Billy Cundiff to the roster just days before the regular-season opener.

It wasn't an ideal time for such a move, but at least placekickers aren't an integral part of an attack. Even in the Brandon Weeden era.

Sunday, the Browns traded their leading rusher from a season ago, Terrance West, to the Titans for a conditional seventh-round pick. A club with a 36-year-old journeyman quarterback that wants to run the ball is left with Isaiah Crowell, who struggled down the stretch last season, and third-round pick Duke Johnson, who's in concussion protocol.

The Browns, who are searching for a veteran replacement, play their first game against the Jets in seven days. No rush, or anything.

It's hard to believe the franchise finds itself in this predicament so close to the start of season. We're not talking about adding a sixth cornerback or reserve offensive linemen. The Browns are built offensively around the running game yet appear to be scrambling like Johnny Manziel versus the Bengals.

Montee Ball, anyone? Ray Rice? Ahmad Bradshaw? Shaun Draughn, signed to the practice squad Sunday?

In fairness, the Browns have been unlucky with Duke Johnson, who they covet for his multi-dimensional presence. He injured a hamstring three days into camp and suffered a concussion on a nasty, high hit against the Buccaneers.

Offensive coordinator John DeFilippo likes to throw to his backs and Johnson is a good fit for the scheme. Crowell possesses a nice burst and a nose for the goal line, but he's not a natural pass catcher. West was better in this capacity, but his inconsistency and lack of maturity grinded on many in the organization.

Despite all the controversy surrounding Manziel and Justin Gilbert a year ago, nobody seemed to agitate coach Mike Pettine more than West, a third-round pick in 2014. His attitude and spotty work ethic diminished the accomplishments of several terrific performances against the Steelers and Ravens.

The Towson product rushed for a team-high 673 yards and four touchdowns a year ago. He also was benched twice and drove coaches and fans to distraction with his penchant for dancing in the hole. He demonstrated the same maddening trait Thursday night in Chicago against the Bears.

"Terrance has had his - it's been well documented - ups and downs," Pettine said Friday. "He flashes at times just brilliance and then other times where he gets a minus on the grade sheet, and that's always been, some of the issues that we've had with him. We know he can do it. It just has to be on a more consistent basis."

Pettine and others in the organization have been making similar statements regarding West for almost year. Sadly, he's been more offensive on social media than the gridiron. The running back has become the latest demerit on Ray Farmer's 2014 draft class. They traded up to grab him with 94^th overall pick and Sunday dumped him for a 2016 pick somewhere in the neighborhood of Mr. Irrelevant. Yowzers.

West might thrive with a change of scenery. Somewhere buried inside him is the drive of a player who used to take two busses from downtown Baltimore to make 5:30 a.m. workouts in suburban Towson.

When the Browns saw little change in West during spring practices, however, they probably should have worked on moving him. Running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery wasn't happy with the group early in training camp and Pettine hinted at possible changes weeks ago. Maybe they were hoping West would respond to the challenge. He didn't, and the gamble proved more costly last weekend when Johnson was concussed.

If the rookie can quickly rebound - there's no timetable with head injuries - the Browns might be just fine. Perhaps, Crowell will take the starter's reps against the Jets and run with them. He didn't capitalize on the opportunity midway through last season, however, or at the start of camp when Johnson and West were sidelined.

Farmer goes on a league-imposed, four-week hiatus Monday for his text-game transgressions. Maybe, he has a plan in store for West's replacement. Maybe, everything works out.

But right now, Farmer and the Browns resemble their jettisoned running back at his most exasperating - dancing around, looking for an opening, running sideways.

Rookie right-hander Cody Anderson threw seven scoreless innings and rookie shortstop Francisco Lindor tripled home two runs on Sunday in the Indians 4-0 victory over Detroit. Watch video

DETROIT - Sunday was a good day for two rookies who helped the Indians beat a team they almost never beat.

Right-hander Cody Anderson pitched seven scoreless innings and shortstop Francisco Lindor drove in the only two runs the Indians needed in a 4-0 victory over Detroit at Comerica Park.

Lindor was at the plate in the sixth inning with Michael Martinez on second and Jason Kipnis on first. There was no score, no outs and Justin Verlander was on the mound.

Manager Terry Francona gave Lindor the bunt sign. Lindor has played only 73 games in the big leagues, but he already leads the AL with 11 sacrifice bunts. Lindor fouled off the first bunt attempt and Francona took the bunt sign off because it looked like Tigers infielders were confused about what bunt defense they were in.

"They were moving all over," said Lindor.

On Verlander's second pitch, Lindor turned to bunt, but didn't offer at the ball. Manager Brad Ausmus went to the mound to get his bunt defense in order. Francona picked that time to yell to Lindor.

"When the Tigers went to the mound, we caught a break," said Francona. "Frankie turned around (toward the Tribe bench) and I yelled to him to go ahead and hit."

Francona wasn't surprised that Lindor tried to bunt a second time after he took it off after Verlander's first pitch.

"Frankie has done that before," he said. "A lot of times with young players, they want to do the right thing which is good. But right there, with the infield crashing, and them trying to straighten out their bunt plays, it seemed to make sense to let him swing.

Lindor hit Verlander's next pitch for a two-run triple to the wall in right center. The Indians added two more insurance runs.

"They knew I was going to bunt," said Lindor, who has hit safely in 54 of his 73 games with the Indians. "It was just a matter of me executing and I missed it. After that it was time to hit because they were coming to catch the ball."

Lindor was happy he could help a fellow rookie

"Anytime you can score on a guy like Verlander it's big," said Lindor. "Especially when Cody was pitching a helluva game. We just needed one or two runs to help him out."

Lindor is hitting .306 (89-for-291) with 16 doubles, one triple, seven homers and 33 RBI.

In Anderson's last two starts, he's faced two of the most dangerous lineups in the big leagues - Detroit and Toronto - and has allowed two runs on five hits in 13 innings.

"He was tremendous," said Francona, after Sunday's game.

In the fourth and fifth innings, Detroit's first two batters reached base. Anderson pitched his way out of trouble each time.

In the fourth, he threw a two-seam fastball that Miguel Cabrera turned into a 6-4-3 double play. Then he retired J.D. Martinez on a fly ball to center.

Victor Martinez started the fifth with a double. Anderson (3-3, 3.72) thought he struck out Nick Castellanos, the next batter, but plate umpire Tony Randazzo called his 3-2 pitch a ball to put runners on first and second.

"He didn't let anything bother him to the point that it was going to affect the game," said Francona. "You could see that he thought it was a strike. But then he gathered himself and it was like "OK, let's go.' That's been a trademark of his early on. Even with his youth, everyone around here knows he's a tough kid."

Anderson thought he had Castellanos struck out.

"You want to get every call you can get, but sometimes they're not perfect either," he said. "I thought it might have been a strike, but maybe I didn't see it right. You can't let that affect the rest of the game so you just have to move onto the next batter."

Here's what happened to the next two batters: Tyler Collins struck out and James McCann hit into a 4-6-3 double play to end the threat.

Anderson threw only 92 pitches, but was removed after seven innings because he was cramping in the Detroit heat. The temperature at first pitch was 86 degrees.

Finally: Utility man Michael Martinez, just promoted from Class AAA Columbus, started in left field Sunday. He went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI, Defensively, he made a nice catch and he was also thrown out trying to steal second base . . .Before Sunday's game, Francona made it official that Carlos Carrasco (sore right shoulder) would be activated and start Tuesday night against the White Sox. . . Victor Martinez's son, Victor Jose, stopped in Francona's office to say hello Sunday morning before the game. "When Victor played for me in Boston, I told Victor Jose, "You can come in here anytime you want, but you've got to stop in and visit me every day." . . .Catcher Yan Gomes took a foul tip off his right knee Sunday, but stayed in the game. Backup catcher Roberto Perez took a foul tip off his right arm on Friday night.

If the Browns hadn't traded running back Terrance West they might've cut him outright. That's how much they were ready to move on.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Former Browns running back Terrance West went south -- literally -- because of his inconsistency on the field and immaturity off of it.

The Browns were so willing to go in another direction with their 2014 third-round pick out of Towson that they shipped him to the Titans Sunday for a conditional lowly seventh-round pick -- even with eventual starter Duke Johnson in the concussion protocol.

The Browns tried to trade West on Saturday, but couldn't execute a deal with the Cowboys and perhaps another team or two. Northeast Ohio Media Group first reported that West wasn't safe heading into the final cuts.

If the Titans hadn't taken him off their hands, the Browns likely would've cut him. Remember, not only did they spend a third-round pick on him last year, they shipped a fourth- and sixth-round picks to the 49ers to move up and grab him at No. 94, presumably before his hometown Ravens did so at 99.

West, the Browns leading rusher last season with 673 yards, came into the season on shaky ground because of maturity issues and because he wasn't well-liked by some in Berea.

West had already been benched twice last season for not having good practice weeks and for not exhibiting the professionalism the Browns were seeking.

They gave him a chance to redeem himself this preseason, but didn't see enough to keep him around.

The telltale signs were there. Asked a couple of weeks ago if West had grown up, coach Mike Pettine said, "I think he's taken a step. I think there's still room for improvement but I think Terrance is headed in the right direction on that front."

The writing was on the wall again during the dress rehearsal game in Tampa Bay Aug. 29 when Pettine started Johnson ahead of West and Isaiah Crowell despite the fact Johnson had missed most of the preseason with a hamstring injury.

The heralded rookie left that game with a concussion and his status for Sunday's opener against the Jets is uncertain. But that didn't stop the Browns from unloading West for almost nothing just seven days before the big game.

For his part, West is open to the change of scenery, and it might do him some good. He wore out his welcome here, but he might be successful in Tennessee, where he'll compete with several backs for playing time.

Can't wait to get to Nashville. Everything I got you will get.... https://t.co/F9VuI9hY8Z

— TWEST (@Terrancewest_28) September 6, 2015

"Can't wait to get to Nashville,'' West proclaimed in Instagram. "Everything I got, you will get.''

The Browns, meanwhile, will likely start Crowell Sunday against the Jets if Johnson's not ready, despite the fact he averaged only 2.8 yards on his 17 carries in preseason, with a long gain of 13.

A running back corps that looked deep and explosive in the offseason is suddenly thin and tenuous. The Browns signed third-year back Shaun Draughn to the practice squad Sunday after he had been cut Saturday in the final trim to 53. If Johnson isn't ready this week, Draughn will most likely be activated. The problem is, he suffered a thumb injury in the Orange and Browns scrimmage and is wearing a cast on his left hand.

Draughn played on offense for the first time in Chicago, but struggled behind the third- and fourth-team offensive line, carrying the ball eight times for only 11 yards (1.4-yard average) and catching one pass for minus 6 yards. Still, Draughn can fulfill some of Johnson's third-down duties if the rookie isn't cleared.

The Browns will also continue to look for help in the backfield. Last week, Pettine declined to rule out former Ravens back Ray Rice when acknowledging he might need to add to the pile because of Johnson's concussion. It's unknown if the Browns would sign him, but word out of Baltimore is that Rice and Wilbert Montgomery might not necessarily embrace the chance to work together again.

The Broncos also on Sunday waived running back Montee Ball, their second-round pick in 2013 who had spent much of the preseason as their No. 2 back. Other backs hit the streets Saturday and Sunday, and the Browns will remain on the lookout.

They'll do so, however, without general manager Ray Farmer, who begins his four-game suspension for impermissible in-game texting at 12:01 Monday morning.

In addition to needing a running back, the Browns are down to only two quarterbacks in starter Josh McCown and backup Johnny Manziel, who's suffering from tendinitis in his elbow and might not be ready for the Jets game. The Browns also have Terrelle Pryor, who narrowly made the team as a receiver, but played quarterback for three seasons in Oakland, including two with current Browns offensive coordinator John DeFilippo as his quarterbacks coach.

If the Browns need another backup for the Jets game, they might be able to re-sign Thad Lewis, who was cut Saturday. Third-teamer Pat Devlin might also resurface on the practice squad, which has two openings after the Browns signed eight to it on Sunday.

The biggest indication that West was in trouble came Thursday night in Chicago, when Pettine started him against the Bears and gave him the bulk of carries while Crowell got the night off with most of the rest of the veterans.

The next day, when Pettine was asked if West was in good standing with the team coming out of the preseason, he indicated that perhaps he wasn't.

"Terrance has had his - it's been well documented - ups and downs,'' said Pettine. "He flashes at times just brilliance and then other times where he gets a minus on the grade sheet, and that's always been some of the issues that we've had with him.

"We know he can do it. It just has to be on a more consistent basis. That's one of the reasons why we felt like he needed to get a good amount of work (Thursday) night."

The trade is an indictment of Farmer's inaugural 2014 draft. The Browns went into it with 10 draft picks, including three in the first 35 -- and emerged with only two starters in left guard Joel Bitinio, a second-round pick, and linebacker Chris Kirksey, a third-rounder. Their two first-rounders, Justin Gilbert and Manziel -- both of whom the Browns traded up for -- are not currently starting and the jury is still out on both.

If they don't pan out, the 2014 draft will have gone south, just like West.

Everything happens for a reason. I'm a BIG believer in that!! #TitanUp

— TWEST (@Terrancewest_28) September 7, 2015

The Browns are set to sign former Rams quarterback Austin Davis with Johnny Manziel suffering from tendinitis in his elbow.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Former Rams quarterback Austin Davis is on his way to Cleveland and is set to sign with the Browns if he passes his physical, a source told Northeast Ohio Media Group late Sunday night.

Davis will be insurance against Johnny Manziel possibly not being ready to serve as the backup during Sunday's opener against the Jets because of the tendinitis in his right elbow.

Davis (6-2, 221) was cut Saturday by the Rams and was on his way to Cleveland late Sunday to take his physical and sign with the club.

ESPN.com's Jeremy Fowler was the first to report Davis' visit.

If all goes as planned, Davis will be on the field Monday when the Browns begin preparations for Sunday's opener against the New York Jets.

After Saturday's cuts, the Browns had only two quarterbacks on their roster in Josh McCown and Manziel, and Manziel is still easing his way back into throwing full strength.

As of Friday afternoon, Manziel was still only throwing tennis balls and weighted balls. He was set to throw a football soon. He said last week he'd be ready for the opener.

Coach Mike Pettine admitted Friday that the uncertainty of Manziel's availability for the opener was 'reason for angst.'

Davis was originally signed by the Rams as an undrafted free agent out of Southern Mississippi in 2012. He was cut and spent time on the Dolphins practice, but rejoined the Rams in 2013.

Last year, after injuries to Sam Bradford and Shaun Hill, Davis was pressed into service as the Rams' starter. In eight starts, he went 3-5, throwing 12 touchdown passes and nine interceptions en route to a 85.1 rating.

The Browns are opting for Davis over quarterback Thad Lewis, who earned a 56.8 rating this preseason. In Chicago, Lewis took seven sacks behind the backup line and turned the ball over twice, once on a strip-sack and once on an interception.

The pretenders have been sent packing: everyone left in the U.S. Open is a legitimate potential champion.

The pretenders have been sent packing: everyone left in the U.S. Open is a legitimate potential champion. You're not going to want to miss any of the remaining matches, and you won't have to.

ESPN is providing gavel-to-gavel coverage of the tournament through its two main channels, ESPN and ESPN2. The programming schedule is below; keep in mind that all times are Eastern.

One caveat: If you're a fan of the doubles game -- and there are some great stories going in the team discipline at the tournament -- ESPN's TV channels will not be sufficient. You'll need to embrace online streaming. The good news: there's no additional cost for ESPN streaming if you get the network through a cable subscription. You simply have to download the app and sign in. Check out the FAQ.

TV schedule (plus selected streaming): All times Eastern.

Monday, Sept. 7: Fourth round

11 a.m.-11 p.m., ESPN2

Tuesday, Sept. 8: Quarterfinals

Noon-11 p.m., ESPN

Wednesday, Sept. 9: Quarterfinals

11 a.m.-6 p.m., ESPN; 8-11 p.m., ESPN2

Thursday, Sept. 10: Women's semifinals

7 p.m.-11 p.m., ESPN

Friday, Sept. 11

12 p.m.-2 p.m.: Mixed doubles final, ESPN streaming

3 p.m.-11 p.m.: Men's semifinals, ESPN

Saturday, Sept. 12

12 p.m.-2 p.m.: Men's doubles final, ESPN streaming

3 p.m.-6 p.m., ESPN

Sunday, Sept. 13

12 p.m.-2 p.m.: Women's doubles final, ESPN streaming

4 p.m.-7 p.m.: Men's final, ESPN

Rookie Francisco Lindor missed a bunt attempt in the critical sixth inning Sunday and settled for a game-winning triple in the Indians victory over Detroit. Watch video

DETROIT -- Francisco Lindor was trying to bunt in the sixth inning Sunday afternoon at Comerica Park.

Hey, he's been in the big leagues for seemingly a week and he already leads the AL with 11 sacrifice bunts. So he's good at it.

Lindor fouled off a bunt attempt on the first pitch. He showed bunt again on the next pitch, but did not offer. On the next pitch, the rookie shortstop hit a two-run triple to the wall in right center field to lead the Indians past Justin Verlander and the Tigers in a 4-0 victory.

The bunt giveth and the bunt taketh away.

The Indians three-run sixth was put in motion by the Indians' successful challenge of an out call at first base against Jason Kipnis. Utlity man Michael Martinez, making his first start for the Indians since being recalled from Class AAA Columbus on Friday, opened the inning with a single to center.

It was just the second hit of the game for the Tribe. The first belonged to Abraham Almonte, who tripled with two out in the fifth.

Kipnis followed with grounder behind second. Andrew Romine grabbed it and flipped to shortstop Dixon Machado at second, but Martinez was safe at second. On Dixon's relay to first, umpire Doug Eddings called Kipnis out. Kipnis immediately signaled to the bench to challenge the call.

The review took 1:27 and Kipnis was called safe and credited with a single. That's when Lindor took over. After Lindor's triple, Carlos Santana made it 3-0 with a single to center.

Lindor entered the game leading AL rookies with a .307 batting average and .346 on base percentage.

Cody Anderson, another rookie, went seven innings for the win. Anderson (3-3, 3.72) held the Tigers scoreless on two hits. In his last two starts on this trip, he's allowed two runs in 13 innings against Toronto and Detroit.

Anderson, Bryan Shaw and Cody Allen combined on the three-hit shutout.

Verlander (3-7, 3.43) allowed three runs on seven hits in seven innings. It was his 42nd start against the Indians. He's 18-17 against the Tribe.

The Indians added an insurance run in the ninth on Martinez's RBI single. Martinez went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Defensively, he robbed Romine of an extra base catch with a nice running catch in left field in the sixth inning.

What it means

The Indians (66-69) improved to 3-3 on this nine-game trip and 5-10 against the Tigers. They finished the season series at Comerica Park at 4-5.

The Tigers (62-74) have lost 13 of their last 16 games.

Replay this

The Tribe's successful challenge in the fifth inning made manager Terry Francona 10-for-21 in challenges this season. It's safe to say it had to be one of the biggest of the season considering how the inning turned out.

My best friend

Two double plays extracted Anderson from threatening innings.

Andrew Gose opened the fourth inning with a walk. Machado followed with a perfect bunt single to first base to put Anderson in a jam because Miguel Cabrera was at the plate.

Anderson unjammed himself on a 2-2 pitch that Cabrera turned into a 6-4-3 double play as Gose went to third. The inning ended when J.D. Martinez flied out to center with Gose on third.

In the fifth, Victor Martinez doubled into the right field corner to start the inning. Nick Castellanos followed with a walk, but Anderson struck out Tyler Collins and induced a 4-6-3 double play from James McCann.

Thanks for coming

The Indians and Tigers drew 28,964 fans to Comerica Park on Sunday. The three-game series drew 84,291 fans.

What's next?

The Indians conclude this nine-game trip with a three-game series against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. RHP Trevor Bauer (10-11, 4.56) will face Chicago lefty Chris Sale (12-7, 3.29) Monday night at 8:10 p.m.

In Bauer's last start, he lasted just 1 1/3 innings against Toronto. He allowed five runs on six hits. Bauer is 2-1 in four starts against the White Sox this season.

Sale is 3-0 in his last five starts. He's 1-0 in two starts against the Tribe this season.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ryan Raburn hit two homers and Trevor Bauer allowed two runs in seven innings as the Cleveland Indians defeated the Chicago White Sox, 3-2, Monday afternoon at US Cellular Field in Chicago. Mike Aviles also homered for the Tribe against left-hander Chris Sale, who gave up the three runs in seven innings. Here is a capsule...

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ryan Raburn hit two homers and Trevor Bauer allowed two runs in seven innings as the Cleveland Indians defeated the Chicago White Sox, 3-2, Monday afternoon at US Cellular Field in Chicago. Mike Aviles also homered for the Tribe against left-hander Chris Sale, who gave up the three runs in seven innings.

Here is a capsule look at the game after a DVR review of the Fox SportsTime Ohio telecast:

Staying relevant: The Indians (67-69) are 4-3 with two games to play on a trip to Toronto, Detroit and Chicago. They remain in the running, albeit still as a long shot, for the second AL wild card.

Streaks busted: The White Sox (65-71) had won four straight overall and four straight over the Tribe. 

Somehow, some way: The Indians secured one of their most improbable victories of the season. Here are several reasons:

*Defeated Sale, a terrific pitcher, on the road.

*Used a lineup that, because of Sale, did not include their two best hitters (lefties Michael Brantley and Jason Kipnis).

*Rode the power of Raburn and Aviles, who entered with a combined nine homers this season.

*Were in danger of Bauer not being able to make it out of the second inning for the second straight start.

Gut-check performance: Bauer gave up two hits, walked five and struck out six. He rebounded from a bad start in a loss at Toronto (1 1/3 IP, 6 H, 5 ER).

Against the White Sox, Bauer (11-11, 4.47 ERA) threw just 57 of 103 pitches for strikes, including 13-of-29 on the first pitch.

Twilight Zone: Bauer's control vanished in the second inning, resulting in four walks. The White Sox scored twice without a hit, but their inability to knock out Bauer when they were oh-so-close proved costly.

Here is a breakdown of Chicago's second:

(R) Avisail Garcia -- fastball high, fastball low, fastball high, fastball high, walk.

(L) J.B. Shuck -- fastball high; (catcher Yan Gomes visits the mound); fastball high; fastball high; fastball high and outside, walk.

(Second baseman Mike Aviles and first baseman Carlos Santana visit the mound.)

(R) Mike Olt -- fastball up and in; slider down and away; fastball up and in; (Tribe pitching coach Mickey Callaway gets on phone); fastball high, walk.

Skinny: Three batters, 12 pitches, 11 fastballs, 12 balls.

(Callaway visits mound. Ryan Webb begins warming.)

(L) Carlos Sanchez -- fastball foul; fastball foul; fastball, fielder's choice/4-6.

Skinny: The first two pitches would have been strikes, but still....Why Sanchez is swinging away is a mystery, especially at 0-0 after 12 straight balls. Jose Abreu, maybe, but not Sanchez. Credit Aviles with a stellar, if underrated, defensive play: He fielded in the hole and made a jump-throw on target to Francisco Lindor while fading away.

(R) Tyler Flowers -- fastball up and in (actually caught inside corner at belt but plate umpire Lance Barksdale missed the call); fastball swinging strike (high); fastball outside; fastball swinging strike; fastball, sacrifice fly to right.

Skinny: Flowers bailed out Bauer by swinging at the second fastball. Indians did not mind a sac fly in that situation.

(L) Adam Eaton -- fastball high; changeup high; fastball inside; fastball foul; fastball low, walk.

(R) Alexei Ramirez -- fastball foul; slider down and away; fastball foul; slider outside (barely); fastball outside; fastball, swinging strikeout (up and in).

Skinny: Bauer is fortunate that Alexeeeeeei doesn't like to walk (23 this season), and, therefore, will expand the zone. Based on how the game turned out, the 3-2 swing at what would have been ball four was ginormous.

If Alexeeeeei had walked, Bauer almost certainly would have been hooked. Instead, Bauer settled in and cruised through the next five innings.    

Not good enough: Sale allowed seven hits, walked one and struck out eight against an all-righty lineup. He threw 74 of 108 pitches for strikes.

Sale (12-8, 3.31) featured good stuff, as usual, but only so-so command: He couldn't quite put the pitches within the zone where he wanted/needed. The Indians pounced on his mistakes for five extra-base hits and could have had more if not for several excellent defensive plays by White Sox outfielders.   

Here is the result of each plate appearance against Sale:

First inning

Francisco Lindor -- grounder to short (0-2 changeup/87).

Mike Aviles -- grounder to second (2-1 fastball/97).

Carlos Santana -- swinging strikeout (2-2 fastball/96).

Second inning

Ryan Raburn -- walk (3-2 fastball down and in/97).

Yan Gomes -- fly to right (1-2 changeup/88).

Chris Johnson -- swinging strikeout (1-2 changeup/89).

Jerry Sands -- called strikeout (1-2 fastball/96).

Third inning

Abraham Almonte -- pop to right (2-1 fastball/94).

Giovanny Urshela -- liner to left (0-0 fastball/93).

Francisco Lindor -- called strikeout (1-2 fastball/96).

Skinny: Melky Cabrera denied Urshela extra bases by making a diving catch while moving to his right. ... Lindor hopped back, but the pitch caught the inside corner.

Fourth inning

Mike Aviles -- homer to left (0-2 fastball/94).

Carlos Santana -- grounder to second (3-2 fastball/91).

Ryan Raburn -- homer to right-center (0-1 breaking pitch/78).

Yan Gomes -- grounder to third (0-2 breaking pitch/80).

Chris Johnson -- single to right (1-0 changeup/88).

Jerry Sands -- called strikeout (2-2 breaking pitch/81).

Skinny: Catcher Tyler Flowers wanted the pitch to Aviles to be be up; it was down. Aviles expertly pulled in the hands and used a three-quarter swing to line the pitch into the seats. At that point, he was 4-for-25 career against Sale. ... Raburn stayed on a breaking pitch on the outer half at the knees. He bagged his third career homer against Sale, 12th at The Cell and 19th against the White Sox.

Fast fact: Entering Aviles's AB, batters against Sale in an 0-2 count this season were 12-for-87 (.138) with one homer and 52 strikeouts.

Fifth inning

Abraham Almonte -- single to center (2-2 fastball/97).

Giovanny Urshela -- liner to center (0-1 changeup/89).

Francisco Lindor -- fielder's choice, 3-6 (2-1 changeup/88).

Mike Aviles -- called strikeout (0-2 breaking pitch).

Sixth inning

Carlos Santana -- swinging strikeout (3-2 fastball/97).

Ryan Raburn -- homer to left (2-1 fastball/92).

Yan Gomes -- called strikeout (0-2 breaking pitch/83).

Chris Johnson -- double to right (1-2 fastball/97).

Jerry Sands -- fly to right (0-0 changeup/89).

Skinny: Make it four homers against Sale, 13 homers at The Cell and 20 homers against the White Sox for Raburn. Four of his eight career multihomer games are against the White Sox. Flowers wanted the fastball in; it didn't get in far enough, and didn't have much on it, amounting to a get-me-over-fastball. Raburn made Sale pay the maximum price with a blast deep into the seats. 

(A mathematics degree is not required to realize that Raburn and Aviles accounted for 25 percent of their combined home-run total for the season -- 3-of-12 -- in one afternoon, against a nasty pitcher such as Sale.) 

Seventh inning

Abraham Almonte -- fly to center (2-1 fastball/94).

Giovanny Urshela -- liner to right (0-0 fastball/92).

Francisco Lindor -- double to left-center (1-0 fastball/93).

Mike Aviles -- grounder to second (1-0 fastball/96).

Skinny: Urshela 0-for-3 against Sale despite three hard-hit balls. Shuck made a running catch this time.