Indians land on short side of home run parade, Tigers top Tribe, 6-4
CLEVELAND (AP) -- J.D. Martinez hit a three-run homer, Victor Martinez added a two-run shot and the Detroit Tigers held on for a 6-4 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Friday night.
Rick Porcello (9-4) pitched six scoreless innings for the Tigers and Joe Nathan worked the ninth for his 15th save.
Victor Martinez homered off Corey Kluber (6-5) in the fourth inning. J.D. Martinez's home run came in the eighth off John Axford.
The Tigers took a 5-0 lead into the bottom of the eighth, but Asdrubal Cabrera hit a three-run homer and Carlos Santana had a solo shot off Ian Krol. Joba Chamberlain retired the final hitter of the inning and then Nathan struck out Michael Bourn with a runner on to end the game.
Victor Martinez, who played for the Indians from 2002-09, is hitting .366 (70 for 191) with eight homers and 44 RBIs in 52 career games against his former team. Detroit's designated hitter also continued his mastery over Kluber. He's batting .471 (8 for 17) with two homers lifetime against the right-hander.
J.D. Martinez was 3 for 4, extending his hitting streak to 10 games during which he's batting .447 (17 for 38) with four homers.
The Tigers returned to Progressive Field for the first time since they were swept in a three-game series last month. Detroit was 27-12 and held a seven-game lead in the AL Central, but suffered two walk-off losses, including a balk that scored the winning run in the 13th inning in the series finale.
The sweep began a 10-20 tailspin which dropped the Tigers out of first place for the first time his season.
Victor Martinez belted Kluber's first pitch deep into the seats in right field for his 18th homer. The Indians walked him intentionally in the eighth, but J.D. Martinez ruined that strategy with his seventh home run.
Porcello, who is 9-3 lifetime against Cleveland, won for the first time since May 29 and for the second time in his last six starts. He was 7-1 with a 2.91 ERA in his first eight starts, but went 1-3 with a 6.00 ERA in the next five.
Porcello allowed six hits, struck out three and walked one.
Indians left fielder Michael Brantley singled as a pinch-hitter with two outs in the ninth, his first appearance since sustaining a concussion Monday.
Porcello is 4-0 with a 1.47 ERA in five starts against Cleveland since 2013.
Kluber hasn't won since May 30 after recording victories in four straight decisions. He gave up eight hits, struck out six and walked one.
Ian Kinsler had an RBI double in the ninth.
Tigers right fielder Torii Hunter missed his fourth straight game with a strained right hamstring.
The crowd of 33,545 was the second-largest at Progressive Field this season, topped only by the home opener.
