(SportsNetwork.com) – Carlos Carrasco goes after his third win on Sunday when
the Cleveland Indians wrap up a three-game series with the Detroit Tigers at
Comerica Park.
Carrasco returned to the hill on Tuesday in Chicago after getting hit in the
face by a line drive in his previous start against the White Sox and pitched
well, allowing just a run and four hits in five innings. He also struck out
eight batters and has fanned 18 in 11 1/3 innings.
“I thought he pitched really well. I thought he used his offspeed especially
well, changeup, breaking ball,” said Cleveland manager Terry Francona. “He
located real well and stayed ahead. I thought he did a good job.”
Carrasco is 2-5 in 12 games (7 starts) versus the Tigers with a 6.86 ERA.
Detroit, meanwhile, will turn to lefty Kyle Lobstein, who is 1-1 with a 3.27
ERA. Lobstein absorbed the loss on Tuesday against the New York Yankees, but
pitched well, surrendering a run and three hits in six innings of a 5-2
defeat.
“Falling behind hitters is what got me in trouble, especially that first
inning,” Lobstein said, “and then I left one pitch up that was hit pretty
well. Overall, though, I think I settled in nicely. I’d like to throw more
strikes than that, try to get deeper in the game, but overall I was able to
make some pitches to get out of some jams.”
Lobstein has faced the Tribe three times and is 1-0 against them with a 5.28
ERA.
Detroit snapped a four-game slide on Saturday, as Victor Martinez knocked in
three runs to help the Tigers to a 4-1 win.
Rajai Davis went 2-for-4 with a walk, stole three bases and scored three of
the Tigers’ runs, while Miguel Cabrera walked four times — three of them
intentional.
Alfredo Simon (4-0) won his fourth consecutive start to open the season,
limiting the Indians to a run on six hits and two walks in 6 2/3 innings.
“We had some good pitching, we played good defense and we didn’t give up that
big inning,” Davis said. “That was a big key to our success today.”
Michael Brantley had four hits and drove in the lone Cleveland run.
The Tigers swept a three-game set when these teams met up in Cleveland earlier
this month.
