(Sports Network) – The Detroit Tigers go after their sixth straight win to
start the season on Sunday when they complete their three-game series with the
Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field.
Detroit moved to 5-0 for the first time since 2006 on Saturday, as Ian
Kinsler’s go-ahead RBI single was part of a four-run ninth inning that lifted
the Tigers to a 9-6 victory.
“Our hitters feed off each other and like to do well,” Tigers manager Brad
Ausmus said. “It’s kind of a competition between them for who has the best
game every day. A lot of times, it’s Miggy or Victor (Martinez), but Ian came
through late here.”
With a win on Sunday the Tigers will have reeled off six straight wins to
start a season for the fourth time in team history and the first since 1985.
Jerry Sands went 3-for-4 for the Indians and came through with a pair of two-
run doubles, the last knotting the score at 5-5 in the bottom of the eighth.
Sands’ clutch two-out hit off Ian Krol (1-0) in the eighth gave the Indians
renewed life in a back-and-forth game that lasted four hours and 16 minutes,
but Cody Allen (0-1) killed the momentum by struggling to find the strike zone
in the final inning.
Getting the call for the Tigers on Sunday will be lefty Kyle Lobstein, who
gets the call in place of the injured Justin Verlander. Lobstein appeared in
seven games (6 starts) for the Tigers last season and was 1-2 with a 4.35 ERA.
This will be his third start against the Indians. He has yet to record a
decision against them, but has pitched to a 5.23 ERA.
Cleveland, meanwhile, will turn to a southpaw of its own in T.J. House, who
has never faced the Tigers. House played in 19 games (18 starts) for the Tribe
last season and was 5-3 with a 3.35 ERA.
Detroit had the upper hand in the head-to-head series last season, going 11-8
against the Tribe.
