DETROIT -- Count Ryan Raburn among the many Indians hitters who are happy that the schedule has entered the post-All Star break phase.
Raburn, who was among the most disappointing players in the first half, came into Friday's game against Detroit during the seventh inning and had two doubles as the Tribe rallied for a 9-3 win.
His RBI double to right in the seventh inning tied the game at three. Raburn then had a double to right in the eighth for his first multi-hit game since May 27 against the White Sox.
It was a tough first half for Raburn, who was one of the Tribe's most consistent hitters last year. Coming into Friday, he batted just .199 in the first half and was 8 for his last 50.
"I think in every way imaginable it was huge for me personally," said Raburn of the game. "Everything that happened in the past is in the past. I can only focus ahead. Collectively as a group to play .500 (in the first half) when we weren't playing good baseball is saying a lot."
Even though Raburn didn't say it, the fact that he had a good game at Detroit did give him a little bit more satisfaction. The former Tiger hit .171 in his final season with them in 2012 and received a lot of boos when he came to the plate
Raburn signed with the Indians before the start of last season and batted .272 with 16 home runs and 55 RBI. He was also a second-half hitter last season, batting .289 after June 28.
"We need him. We can't run from guys like that," said manager Terry Francona of Raburn. "We have to try to get them going because they all have their roles and when he is hitting the way he can that makes us a different team. When he played last year it was like having another cleanup hitter with the numbers he put up."
NO CONCERNS: After going 38 straight games without an error, catcher Yan Gomes has three in his last 13, including one on Friday when he tried to get Torii Hunter stealing third. Instead, the throw went into left and the Tigers took a 3-0 lead.
Gomes has 12 errors this season, which leads catchers in the Majors by two. He is tied for third in the Majors in baserunners caught stealing with 22 but seven of the last eight baserunners have steals.
"Yesterday (in trying to throw out Hunter) he tried to be too fine with it. He knew he had to throw it right on the bag and Lonnie (Chiesnhall) was moving," Francona said. "He's made a couple miscues as throwing goes but we'll take him back there any day of the week. His throwing is as good as anyone in the league. His feet are so quick. He's going to get some errors because he's so quick."
