DETROIT -- The Indians got swept out of Comerica Park this weekend. Now only an epic comeback and collapse by the Wild Card contenders can save them.
For the second straight day, the Tigers rallied to win 6-4. It is the first time the Tribe has been swept in a three-game set since Detroit did at Progressive Field June 20-22. It is the first time it has happened on the road since late May when they were swept in Chicago by the White Sox.
The only good news the Tribe got on Sunday was that Kansas City also lost, which keeps the margin officially at five games. Most are counting the suspended game as a win but that still makes it four with 13 to play, starting with a four-game set at Houston on Monday.
"We definitely have to win games. We haven't given ourselves much room for error," Jason Giambi said. "In a perfect world you don't think you are going to sweep (in Detroit) but you would like to take two out of three and even try to salvage a game. Now we have to deal with what is in front of us and not lose games. It's that pure and simple. We have to win every single night and see what the universe has in store for us."
After winning only four of 19 meetings against the Tigers last season, the Indians doubled that this season and took eight. However they dropped seven of the last eight, including the last four in Detroit.
They dropped the last two in an unlikely fashion. All season long the bullpen has been the Indians' strength as they led the American League in wins (32) and had the third-lowest ERA (3.13). But they were unable to hang on to leads on Saturday or Sunday. Bryan Shaw, who leads the American League in appearances with 74, faltered again.
After giving up an Alex Avila go-ahead homer on Saturday, Shaw came on in the seventh with the Indians holding a 3-2 lead. It didn't last for long as Rajai Davis led off with a single and stole second before Ian Kinsler connected for a two-run blast to left-center on a 3-1 cutter to give the Tigers the lead. Detroit would tack on two more in the eighth off C.C. Lee for breathing room, including one on a wild pitch during an intentional walk.
The Indians got within two runs in the ninth when Carlos Santana's double drove in Michael Brantley.
"They've been so good they're bound to give up runs every now and then. It gets magnified when you play so many close games," said Trevor Bauer, who gave up two runs (one earned) in five innings. "You give up a two-run homer in a 7-2 game and it's 7-4 and no one says anything about it. If every single game you play is one run or you're behind but still trying to give yourself a chance everything gets magnified."
Brantley and Yan Gomes each had two hits but the Indians ended up leaving 12 on base.
The Indians swept Houston in a three-game series last month but the Astros have gone 7-4 since Tom Lawless took over as manager. After that is a three-game weekend trip to Minnesota, where the Indians are 3-3 this season, and the closing homestand against Kansas City and Tampa Bay.
"They hurt a lot but now they're over. Now we have to go to Houston and gather ourselves in a hurry an continue to play," Terry Francona said. "When you play teams as good as Detroit, we did some good things but they came back twice and beat us late. The only alternative is to show up tomorrow and win."
