Jhonny Peralta hit an inside-the-park homer and Jeanmar Gomez was superb in his major-league debut as the suddenly sizzling Indians beat Detroit, 7-2, Sunday afternoon.
Cleveland Indians' Jhonny Peralta slowly gets up scoring at home after hitting an in-the-park three-run homer as Detroit Tigers catcher Gerald Laird watches in the first inning July 18, 2010 at Progressive Field in Cleveland.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Jhonny Peralta hit an inside-the-park homer in the first inning Sunday afternoon.
At that point, the Indians were obligated to win.
Peralta's lethal mix of power and speed backed a terrific major-league debut by right-hander Jeanmar Gomez in the Tribe's 7-2 dismissal of the Tigers at Progressive Field.
The Indians (38-54) are 4-0 since the All-Star break thanks to a series sweep. They won the opener Friday and a day-night doubleheader Saturday.
The last time the Indians were 4-0 post-break was 1995.
Detroit, which had been hot before being forced to sit for several days, slipped to 48-42. It is 16-29 on the road.
Gomez officially was promoted from Class AAA Columbus on Sunday morning to make what Tribe manager Manny Acta insisted would be a spot start, regardless of result. After what Acta and other decision makers saw, it wasn't easy to send him back.
Gomez (1-0) gave up two unearned runs on five hits in seven innings. He walked one and struck out four.
The wiry righty showed no sign of nerves and was in control throughout. His fastball settled in the low-90s and featured late action. Gomez commanded the four corners in a performance that left many wondering how he is 6-8 with a 5.70 ERA in 18 starts for the Clippers this season.
Then again, Gomez is only 22.
"We don't expect a 22-year-old to dominate at Triple A,'' Acta said.
Gomez did, indeed, begin the process of returning to Columbus after the game. The Indians are expected to recall reliever Jess Todd from Columbus in time for a series in Minnesota beginning Monday. Gomez had taken infielder Anderson Hernandez's roster spot; Hernandez was designated for assignment.
"Jeanmar understood,'' Acta said. "He had the plane ticket in his hand when I went to talk with him. He relished this opportunity.''
Gomez, who once pitched a perfect game for the Class AA Akron Aeros, became the first Indians starter to win his debut since Scott Lewis on Sept. 10, 2008, at Baltimore.
Peralta gave Gomez instant breathing room.
With two outs in the first, Peralta blasted lefty Andy Oliver's 0-1 pitch to deep center. Ryan Raburn, subbing for Austin Jackson, tracked it to the wall and leaped. His timing was off, though, and the ball caromed away. Raburn crashed through the Indians' bullpen gate.
By the time left fielder Brennan Boesch retrieved, Peralta was rumbling into third. Tribe third-base coach Steve Smith pinwheeled and Peralta made it easily. Peralta slid, but didn't need to do so. The throw was high.
It was the first inside-the-park homer by an Indian since Grady Sizemore did it on April 27, 2007, against Baltimore. The Indians have hit six inside-the-park homers at Progressive Field; opponents, two.
Third baseman Peralta returned to the lineup after being out Friday and Saturday because of a fever. He had not played since last Sunday in Tampa Bay.
The Indians made it 5-0 in the fourth. Jason Donald had an RBI grounder and Tigers third baseman Don Kelly threw wildly to first on Michael Brantley's grounder, allowing Trevor Crowe to score. Brantley was credited with a single.
The Tribe eventually loaded the bases with two outs. Reliever Eddie Bonine got Austin Kearns to line to third on a full-count pitch.
Oliver, from Vermilion High School, lasted 3 2/3 innings. He gave up five runs on four hits, walked five and struck out four. He is 0-4 in five major-league starts.
The Indians tacked on runs in the seventh and eighth.
Hector Ambriz pitched the final two innings for the Tribe, whose relievers did not give up a run the entire series.
Peralta had one of four extra-base hits for the Tribe, whose hitters have at least one in 41 consecutive games.
The Indians had not swept a four-game series from Detroit in Cleveland since May 31 to June 3, 1991, at Municipal Stadium.