Indians defeat Tigers, 4-0, in first game of doubleheader.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Shin-Soo Choo was in one of his do-it-all modes as the Indians defeated the Tigers, 4-0, in the first game of a doubleheader Wednesday at Progressive Field.
The Tribe (67-91) has won five in a row.
Through five innings, Choo had gone 3-for-3 with a homer and triggered a double play with an assist. Choo and Travis Hafner hit two-run shots in support of rookie right-hander Mitch Talbot.
Talbot, in his final start of the season, gave up five hits in seven innings. He improved to 10-13, joining Fausto Carmona as the only Indians with double-digit victories. Carmona is 12-14.
Talbot threw 60 of 93 pitches for strikes. His off-speed stuff was superb.
Acquired from Tampa Bay over the winter for Kelly Shoppach, Talbot finished with a 4.41 ERA in 159 1/3 innings of 28 starts. He went 4-9 at Progressive Field.
Talbot worked out of two-out trouble in the second. Former Indian Jhonny Peralta singled and checked in at second on Brennan Boesch's single. Brandon Inge struck out.
The Indians took a 2-0 lead in the third. Choo singled and scored on Hafner's shot to right.
In the top of the fifth, Inge led off with a hit-by-pitch. With Inge on the move, Alex Avila lined to right. Choo made the catch and zipped a throw to first to double off Inge by a step.
Talbot received more double-play help in the sixth. Will Rhymes singled and Johnny Damon flied out. With Ryan Raburn in a full count, Rhymes attempted to steal. Raburn took Talbot's pitch for a called strike and catcher Luke Carlin erased Rhymes with a laser to second.
Carlin had helped Talbot on Tuesday and did not even know it. Carlin's snap-throw to first attempting to pick off Miguel Cabrera forced the big man to lunge back to the back. Cabrera, an MVP candidate, rolled his right ankle and is done for the season.
Don Kelly played first base for Detroit in the first game Wednesday.
The Tribe surged ahead, 4-0, in the fifth. Asdrubal Cabrera led off with a walk and Choo homered to right-center.
Jensen Lewis relieved Talbot and worked the eighth. Vinnie Pestano pitched the ninth.
The Indians loaded the bases in the first but failed to score. With two outs, Choo singled and advanced to third on Hafner's single. Matt LaPorta walked. Trevor Crowe swung through Max Scherzer's 96-mph fastball for the final out.
First pitch of the doubleheader came at 4:04 p.m. in front of family and friends.