Mike Napoli’s Two-Run Homer Lifts Indians Past Tigers 5-3

Mike Napoli hit a tie-breaking two-run homer in the seventh inning and the Cleveland Indians remained perfect in 10 games against the Detroit Tigers this season with a 5-3 home victory on Monday night.

Mike Napoli’s Two-Run Homer Lifts Indians Past Tigers 5-3

Napoli hit an 0-1 pitch from Bruce Rondon (2-1) into the left-field seats for his 17th homer of the season to lead the Indians to their 12th consecutive win at their own Progressive Field. Cleveland (50-32) now lead the American League Central, and are 6 1/2 games ahead of the second-place Tigers (44-39). The victory also ended the Indians’ two-game skid that followed a franchise-record 14-game winning streak.

The crowd of 34,163 was Cleveland’s second sellout of the season and first since opening day. The start of the game was delayed by rain for 2 hours, 21 minutes.

Steven Moya and Nick Castellanos homered for the Tigers, who snapped a six-game winning streak. Moya took Danny Salazar deep with a leadoff shot in the fifth, then Castellanos went yard on a two-run homer in the sixth to tie the score at 3. However, Napoli’s game-winning blast came soon afterwards. According to Statcast, the ball traveled an estimated 430 feet at 109 mph.

“It’s nice, because he’s done that so many times,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “We don’t live by the home run a ton, but when he’s up, I mean, that’s why he’s here. We certainly try not to run into outs, because we like to get to him and let him take three good swings.”

Cleveland right-hander Jeff Manship (1-1) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings and right-handed reliever Cody Allen worked the ninth for his 18th save.

Salazar, the AL Pitcher of the Month for June, had a rough start to July. For the first time all season, the Cleveland right-hander surrendered multiple home runs, and he was chased after 5 2/3 innings after allowing three runs and a season-high eight hits.

Detroit left-hander Daniel Norris left after just two innings of two-run ball due to a strained right oblique. The Tigers thus went to their bullpen much earlier than anticipated, which allowed right-hander Dustin Molleken– a former Indians Minor Leaguer– to make his Major League debut. Molleken also went two innings, allowing one run on three hits. In total, Detroit used five pitchers in the game. Molleken was called up from Triple-A Toledo when right-hander Jordan Zimmermann was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a neck strain.

“Guys battled,” Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. “I thought we hit some balls hard tonight. They made some nice plays. The guys were into the game. They were into it and they were focused, down to the last out.”

Norris fought his way out of a jam in the second with one run allowed, although this seemed to come at a price when he made a diving attempt at Abraham Almonte’s chopper up the middle. Jose Iglesias fielded the ball for the out, but Norris then pulled his right oblique. The Tigers announced he’ll have an MRI on Tuesday.

Right-hander Alex Wilson retired the Indians in order on just three pitches (to Juan Uribe, Almonte and Rajai Davis) in the sixth inning. According to STATS, he became the first pitcher to do that since Tommy Hunter retired the Rays in order on three pitches in the ninth inning on June 29, 2014.

The game ended when Iglesias bounced into a double play. Iglesias was called safe at first, but it was reversed after a replay review.

The two teams will face off again for the middle game of their three-game series in Cleveland on Tuesday night. Right-hander Anibal Sanchez will take the mound for the Tigers, filling in for the injured Zimmerman. Sanchez allowed two homers and four runs over five innings against the Indians in his last start, on June 25 at Comerica Park. Right-hander Carlos Carrasco will make his 11th start for the Indians. In his last three starts, he has allowed a combined three runs on 12 hits across 23 2/3 innings. He is 5-6 with a 5.25 ERA in 17 appearances (12 starts) against the Tigers in his career.

CLEVELAND, OH – JULY 5: Mike Napoli #26 of the Cleveland Indians tosses his bat after hitting a two-run home run to take the lead over the Detroit Tigers during the seventh inning at Progressive Field on July 5, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)