Detroit Tigers

Tigers, Indians split doubleheader in Cleveland

Published Sep. 13, 2015 4:44 p.m. ET

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CLEVELAND (AP) -- The Tigers managed to salvage something from a long weekend in Cleveland.

J.D. Martinez drove in three runs and Drew VerHagen earned his first major league win Sunday as Detroit defeated the Indians 9-2 in the second game of a doubleheader.

Rookie shortstop Dixon Machado had two hits and drove in his first two big league runs for the Tigers, who lost the series opener Thursday before the teams were rained out Friday and Saturday. Cleveland won the first game of the traditional twinbill 7-2.

"The second game would have been painful if we hadn't pulled it out," Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said. "It's been a rough couple of days here, but I'm happy for the guys to get one. No matter what, we take pride in representing the Detroit Tigers and we're trying to win games every day."

VerHagen (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings for the victory, which netted him a beer shower in the clubhouse. The right-hander entered to start the fourth after Randy Wolf needed to throw 93 pitches over the first three frames, 50 of them in the first.

"This is a really, really cool feeling because it's something that I've dreamed about forever," VerHagen said, chuckling. "My hair is full of beer, but I don't have the game ball, so that wasn't exactly how I thought it would happen."

Martinez and Nick Castellanos each had three hits in the nightcap, which lasted 3 hours and 52 minutes and featured 10 pitchers. Machado exited in the fifth with a strained hamstring, but said he would be fine "in a couple days."

Four-time defending American League Central champion Detroit is last in the division at 65-77.

In game one, Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander (3-8) allowed four runs and six hits over six innings, snapping his streak of six straight quality starts. The former AL MVP and Cy Young winner fell to 9-13 with a 5.38 ERA in 24 career outings at Progressive Field.

"It was kind of a mixed bag because I felt I pitched pretty good, but they got a couple of bloop hits that were costly," said Verlander, whose season ERA rose to 3.58.

"I would have liked to give us a better chance to win, but I kept us out there for a long time in the fifth (when Cleveland scored three times)."

Martinez went 5 for 9 with two doubles in the doubleheader, while AL batting leader Miguel Cabrera was hitless in eight at-bats to drop his average to .341.

Cabrera entered the day hitting .359 with 40 homers and 129 RBIs in 145 career games against the Indians.

"Miggy is human, you know," Ausmus said. "When a guy hits .350, he's not going to hit .350 every day. There are some days he's going to be above it and some days where he's below it."

MOYA-MANIA

Tigers LF Steven Moya made his first start of the season, going 2 for 3 with a triple in the first game. The top prospect, who was recalled Tuesday from Triple-A Toledo, also threw out Indians SS Francisco Lindor when he attempted to score from third on a fly ball. "Moya made a big throw to the plate there," Ausmus said.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Tigers: RHP Anibal Sanchez (right rotator cuff strain) will start Wednesday at the Twins. LHP Daniel Norris (right oblique strain) will pitch in relief in the same game.

Indians: RHP Corey Kluber (right hamstring strain) could start Thursday against Kansas City, but manager Terry Francona said a final decision hasn't been made.

UP NEXT

Tigers: LHP Kyle Lobstein will start the first game of a three-game series Monday in Minnesota.

Indians: RHP Carlos Carrasco gets the call to begin a four-game set Monday against Kansas City.