Player of the Game
The Indians attempted a small comeback in the ninth and it was spurred by the Tribe’s top player all season. Michael Brantley lead off the inning with his second hit of the game, then scored on a Carlos Santana double. Brantley also stole a base and knocked in a run when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. This was his second Player of the Game in a row and his team high 16th on the season.

Feathers Up
Trevor Bauer was outstanding today, giving up just a single earned run through five innings on a solo home run by the Indians’ nemesis, J.D. Martinez. Outside of the home run, Bauer didn’t allow an extra base hit and just five singles. He did walk one batter and grazed two on their hands to give the Tigers a few free base runners, but none scored as Bauer was able to keep things under control when necessary.

The Indians weren’t able to score the first time they loaded the bases in the fourth, they were able to add one run on a Carlos Santana sacrifice fly in the fifth to tie the game and a few more the next inning. Yan Gomes started the sixth with a walk, then Justin Verlander struck out the next two to bring his total to six for the game. With two down, Roberto Perez singled and Michael Bourn walked to load the bases. Verlander was removed after the single and the left handed match-up man, Blaine Hardy then gave up an infield single to Jose Ramirez and hit Michael Brantley to bring home a second run without retiring a batter.

Feathers Down
It was another error that cost the Indians a run in the sixth and forced Bauer into an early exit. Santana ole’d a ball at first after Miguel Cabrera had already singled and another single from J.D. Martinez brought Cabrera home and knocked out Bauer. With runners still on first and second, Kyle Crockett was able to strike out Alex Avila and Scott Atchison were able to contain the Tigers from adding any more. The one run that did score was unearned thanks to the normally solid Santana.

For the second night in a row, Bryan Shaw blew a one run save by giving up a two run home run. Last night, it was in the eighth inning against Ian Kinsler. Before retiring a batter, Shaw allowed a single to Rajai Davis, the home run to Kinsler another single to Torii Hunter and a walk to Miguel Cabrera in what ended up being a much worse outing than last night’s. He did induce a double play before intentionally walking J.D. Martinez and leaving the game.

Taking away any chance of an Indians comeback, C.C. Lee was incredibly wild in the eighth. He gave up a single, then walked two with a couple wild pitches interspersed. The second wild pitch was on an intentional ball with runners at second and third and brought home the fifth Tigers run. After finishing the intentional walk, Lee was pulled for closer Cody Allen, but a second run scored on a ground ball to second.

Final Score: Cleveland Indians 4 – Detroit Tigers 6

Wild Card Magic #: 10

On Deck: The Tribe will head to Houston for four, continuing the final road trip of the season. The first game will be at 8:10 PM EDT, Monday night.