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Niko Goodrum's two homers lift Tigers over Indians

Niko Goodrum's two homers lift Tigers over Indians
Posted at 10:51 PM, May 14, 2018
and last updated 2018-05-14 22:51:59-04

DETROIT (AP) -- Niko Goodrum homered twice and drove in five runs, and the injury-plagued Detroit Tigers beat Carlos Carrasco and the Cleveland Indians 6-3 on Monday night.

Goodrum hit a two-run shot in the fourth inning and a three-run homer in the eighth, and for the second straight day, the Tigers won despite fielding a patchwork lineup against a tough opposing pitcher. Miguel Cabrera is on the disabled list, and Detroit has also been without Nicholas Castellanos and Jeimer Candelario.

The Tigers faced James Paxton and Seattle on Sunday and won that game in the bottom of the ninth. Then they made Carrasco's outing difficult.

Jose Ramirez hit his 13th homer of the season for Cleveland, but the AL Central-leading Indians fell back to .500 and are only two games ahead of Detroit. The Tigers had lost 11 straight against Cleveland, including a four-game sweep in Ohio last month.

Carrasco (5-2) had won his previous 12 decisions against the AL Central, but he allowed three runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings Monday and received little run support.

Mike Fiers (4-2) allowed a run and three hits for Detroit in six innings. He walked one and struck out five. The Indians scored an unearned run in the eighth, but with the tying run on second, left-hander Daniel Stumpf came on and retired Yonder Alonso on a first-pitch popup for the third out.

Then Goodrum gave Detroit a 6-2 lead with his homer in the bottom of the inning.

Cleveland's Francisco Lindor hit an RBI single in the ninth, extending his hitting streak to 15 games. The Indians brought the tying run to the plate against Shane Greene, but Michael Brantley grounded out to end it.

Ramirez opened the scoring with a homer to right in the first, but Detroit tied it in the third on an RBI groundout by Pete Kozma. In the fourth, Carrasco allowed a leadoff double by John Hicks. One out later, Goodrum connected to put the Tigers up 3-1.

KEEPSAKE
   Cleveland manager Terry Francona had an old baseball glove in his office with his father's name on it. Tito Francona played in the major leagues from 1956-1970.
   Terry Francona said he has about a half-dozen of those gloves. This one was given to him by Tigers broadcaster Jim Price.
   Price said the glove had belonged to his son, and he passed it along to Francona before the game.
   "We're real good friends. He's great. He supports my foundation," Price said. "I couldn't wait to give it to him."

TRAINER'S ROOM
   Indians: CF Bradley Zimmer (bruised chest) was out of the lineup. He has appeared in one game since he crashed into the wall at Yankee Stadium on May 5.
   Tigers: Candelario (left wrist tendinitis) went on the disabled list before the game, and Castellanos (injured finger on left hand) was out of the lineup as well. Cabrera is out with a right hamstring strain.

UP NEXT
   Josh Tomlin (0-4) starts Tuesday night for Cleveland against Detroit's Francisco Liriano (3-1).