DETROIT (AP) -- Jose Alvarez pitched six impressive innings in his major league debut, and Don Kelly hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the sixth to help the Detroit Tigers finish a three-game sweep of the Cleveland Indians with a 4-1 victory Sunday.
Alvarez (1-0) was starting because of Anibal Sanchez's shoulder tightness, and he held Cleveland hitless until Ryan Raburn's fifth-inning homer. The 24-year-old left-hander allowed three hits and a walk and struck out seven.
Drew Smyly pitched two innings of relief. Joaquin Benoit finished for his third save.
Justin Masterson (8-5) allowed four runs in seven innings. He gave up a walk to Miguel Cabrera and a single to Prince Fielder to start the Detroit sixth. One out later, Kelly lifted a drive over the wall in right field.
The first-place Tigers lead Cleveland by 5 1/2 games in the AL Central. The Indians have lost seven straight.
The Tigers have built their division lead behind terrific starting pitching. Sanchez has been perhaps their best pitcher so far, but Detroit skipped the right-hander's start Sunday because of tightness in the back of his throwing shoulder.
Enter Alvarez, whose contract was purchased from Triple-A Toledo before the game. He baffled the Indians during the early innings, allowing only a leadoff walk to Mark Reynolds in the second before Raburn -- the former Tiger -- tied the game at 1 with his seventh homer of the season.
The left-handed hitting Kelly brought a .190 average into the game, but Detroit manager Jim Leyland started him against Masterson, who is tough on righties.
The move paid off with Kelly's third homer of the year, which gave the Tigers a 4-1 lead. Detroit's bullpen was a bit taxed -- and a man short because the Tigers had to add an extra starter for this game. They were able to wrap up this win with Smyly and Benoit while resting closer Jose Valverde.
Detroit's Alex Avila opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the second.
Masterson allowed six hits. He walked three and struck out four.
NOTES: Indians closer Chris Perez (sore right shoulder) is expected to throw off a mound Tuesday. Perez and his wife were charged in a complaint filed Friday with misdemeanor drug possession involving just over one-third of a pound of marijuana, police in Ohio said. Their attorney said they would plead not guilty. ... It began raining in the ninth inning, sending many fans back toward the concourse level while Benoit finished the game. ... Cleveland's Nick Swisher singled in the sixth to snap an 0-for-26 slide. ... Detroit opens a three-game series at Kansas City on Monday night. Doug Fister (5-3) takes the mound for the Tigers against Jeremy Guthrie (6-3). Cleveland starts a three-game set at Texas. Scott Kazmir (3-3) will start Monday for the Indians.
