Jake Westbrook turns in a solid pitching performance and Kerry Wood gets the save as the Indians win at Detroit.
View full sizeThe Indians' Russell Branyan, center, is congratulated on his solo home run by Mark Grudzielanek as Tigers catcher Gerald Laird, right, watches in the fifth inning Tuesday at Detroit.
UPDATED: 9:44 p.m.
DETROIT, Mich. -- The Indians won for just the fourth time in their past 15 games tonight with a 3-2 victory over Detroit at Comerica Park. It was just their second win in the past 12 games at the Tigers' home field.
Jake Westbrook (3-3) pitched into the eighth inning for the second time this season to win his first game since May 16. Kerry Wood earned his third save despite giving up an RBI single to pinch-hitter Alex Avilla with two out in the ninth.
Jeremy Bonderman (2-3) was the loser.
Small ball: The Indians stretched their lead to 3-1 in the eighth on Mark Grudzielanek's two-out single into left field. Travis Hafner, who reached base when Bonderman hit him in the foot, scored. It was Grudzielanek's 11th RBI and his 30th hit.
All 30 have been singles.
Tight quarters: Chris Perez relieved Westbrook with two on and two out in the eighth. He retired Magglio Ordonez on a foul pop to third.
The line: Westbrook allowed one run on five hits in 7 2/3 innings. He struck out one and walked one. Bonderman allowed three runs on nine hits in eight innings. He walked two and struck out two.
Long ball II: Shin-Soo Choo put the Indians ahead, 2-1, and stopped an 0-for-19 skid with a one-out homer off Bonderman in the sixth. It was Choo's eighth homer.
Long ball: Russell Branyan pulled the Indians into a 1-1 tie with a leadoff homer in the fifth. It was Branyan's seventh homer of the season and third in his last four games.
Roar of the Tigers: Detroit took a 1-0 off Jake Westbrook in the second on Carlos Guillen's single to score Miguel Cabrera from third. Westbrook dropped down with a sidearm breaking ball against Guillen and he lined it into center. Cabrera started the inning with a double.
You're out: Cabrera tried to stretch a leadoff single into a double in the fourth, but center fielder Trevor Crowe threw him out.
Pre-game notes:
Game 50: Following the dismal showing of the Indians bullpen against the Yankees over the weekend, manager Manny Acta said, "I think a lot of it has to do with the Yankees. They're good and we're not claiming to have a great bullpen. Actually, from Day One, we've been pretty solid at the backend with Tony Sipp, Chris Perez and Kerry Wood. We have struggled to get to the ball to them. Basically, we have to have someone step up because we're not going to be bringing those guys in when we're trailing just to keep the game close.
"We really want to use those guys in high leverage situations. We've got four other guys right now who are having trouble getting the ball to Sipp, Perez and Woody."
In the four-game series against the Yankees, Indians relievers allowed 24 runs on 27 hits in 11 2/3 innings. Sipp and Chris Perez, used almost exclusively when the Indians were leading, were rushed into the breech against the Yankees to try and keep the Indians close and were hammered.
Sipp gave up a grand slam and a three-run homer. Perez gave up a slam and solo homer.
In Sunday's 11-2 loss, Andy Pettitte held the Indians to one run on four hits in seven innings. Here was Acta's review of the veteran left-hander, "He just toyed with the four inexperienced guys in our lineup. He's so good changing speeds and using that cutter inside of the hands.
"You could see he just toyed with the real young kids. The only guys who had decent at-bats against him are (Mark) Grudzielanek, (Austin) Kearns and Jhonny (Peralta)."
The four inexperienced players Acta was talking about, Trevor Crowe, Matt LaPorta, Lou Marson and Jason Donald, were a combined 1-for-10 against Pettitte.
Terrible news: Former Indians left-hander Jeriome Robertson was killed in a motorcycle crash Saturday in his hometown of Exeter, Calif.
Robertson was drafted and developed by Houston. Acta managed him in the Astros minor league system and in winter ball in Venezuela.
"I think I managed him four years and took him to winter ball with me in Venezuela," said Acta. "I'm very shocked. The fact that in less than 10 days, two guys who were there with me on the Mets in 2006 are gone. . .Jose Lima and Jeriome Robertson. We had Jeriome in major league camp and in Triple-A."
Acta was a coach for the Mets at that time.
The Indians acquired Robertson from Houston on March 31, 2004 for Luke Scott, who has turned into a solid, power-hitting outfielder/DH. Robertson didn't pitch well for the Tribe, going 1-1 with a 12.21 ERA. He allowed 19 earned runs and 22 hits in 14 innings.
"It's shocking. The guy was 33. Full of life. Very competitive," said Acta. "He was a good guy. Everybody loved him. A California kids. Happy go lucky. He was always wearing shorts and sandals. Just a great kid."
According to visalia.gannett.com, the California Highway Patrol said Robertson lost control of his motorocycle late Saturday night while making a turn at 70 mph.
Sick bay: Indians are expecting to hear today when Grady Sizemore will have surgery on his left knee. It's expected to be Thursday or Friday in Vail, Colo.
He was transferred to the 60-day disabled list today to make room for right-hander Shane Lindsay, who was claimed off waivers from the Yankees. Lindsay was placed on the 40-man roster and sent to Class A Kinston.
Lindsay began this season for the Class AAA Colorado Springs Sky Sox and went 0-1 with a 6.59 ERA in 14 appearances after he went to big-league camp with the Rockies. The Yankees claimed him on waivers, but he had not pitched in a game after reporting to extended spring training in Tampa, Fla.
In other injury news, Andy Marte could go on a rehab assignment this week. He's been on the disabled list with since May 15 with an infected ingrown hair that caused an infection that reguired surgery on his stomach.
Lineups: Indians (18-31): CF Trevor Crowe (S), RF Shin-Soo Choo (L), LF Austin Kearns (R), DH Travis Hafner (L), 3B Jhonny Peralta (R), 1B Russell Branyan (L), 2B Mark Grudzielanek (R), C Lou Marson (R), SS Jason Donald (R) and RHP Jake Westbrook (2-3, 4.78).
Tigers (26-24): CF Austin Jackson (R), LF Johnny Damon (L), RF Magglio Ordonez (R), 1B Miguel Cabrera (R), DH Brennan Boesch (L), 2B Carlos Guillen (S), 3B Brandon Inge (R), C Gerald Laird (R), SS Ramon Santiago (S) and RHP Jeremy Bonderman (2-2, 3.78).
Umpires: H Derryl Cousins, 1B Marvin Hudson, 2B Jim Joyce, 3B Jim Wolf.
Quote of the day: "You can't tell how much spirit a team has until it starts losing," said Rocky Colavito when he played for the Tigers. The quote appeared in Baseball's Greatest Quotations by Paul Dickson.
Next: RHP Fausto Carmona (4-3, 3.69) vs. RHP Armando Galarraga (1-1, 4.50) Wednesday night at 7:05.