SPORTS

Live Tigers blog: Kluber shines as Tigers fall to Tribe

Geoff Robinson
The Detroit News
Cleveland Indians' Michael Brantley (23), left, scores on a wild pitch past Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez (19) during the fourth inning.

FINAL: INDIANS 4, TIGERS 0

The Tigers just can't solve the puzzle that is the Cleveland Indians, falling to the Tribe for the fifth consecutive time this season and searching for answers after being shutout by Corey Kluber, 4-0.

It's not like the Tigers didn't have their chances against Kluber. They loaded the bases with one out in the second inning and had runners on the corners with one out in the fourth, but they couldn't cash in.

Anibal Sanchez started off well enough, not allowing a hit until the fourth inning, but that's when Cleveland strung together a few and were able to put up the only runs of the game for either side.

Sanchez finished the night giving up four runs on four hits. He walked three and struck out seven.

In the ninth, Miguel Cabrera flew out to right field, Victor Martinez flew out to left and Justin Upton struck out swinging to end the game.

Nick Castellanos was the only Tigers hitter with multiple hits, singling twice and going 2-for-3.

Kluber retired the final 10 Tigers he faced in his complete game, shutout performance, striking out six while walking just two on five hits.

Bottom 8th: Indians 4, Tigers 0

Kyle Ryan was the new Tigers pitcher in the eighth inning and he was greeted rather rudely by Carlos Santana, who smashed a ball of the wall in left field, just missing a home run. Justin Upton played the ball well off the bounce and held Santana to a single.

Ryan worked that nicely played ball into a double play off the bat of Jason Kipnis. Francisco Lindor grounded out on a beautiful barehanded grab and throw across the diamond by Nick Castellanos.

The Tigers are down to their final three outs. Due up in the 9th: Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, Justin Upton.

Top 8th: Indians 4, Tigers 0

Corey Kluber is still in the game and the Tigers still aren't coming up with big hits, going down 1-2-3 in the eighth inning.

Jose Iglesias grounded out to Francisco Lindor to leadoff the inning, the fifth consecutive Tiger to do so. Ian Kinsler broke up that streak by becoming Kluber's sixth strikeout victim and J.D. Martinez moved to 0-for-4 on the night by grounding out to, you guessed it, Lindor.

Kluber has retired seven straight Tigers.

Bottom 7th: Indians 4, Tigers 0

Lonnie Chisenhall notched a one-out single and Juan Uribe drew a walk, but Anibal Sanchez was able to induce an inning-ending double play to get out of trouble and keep the Tiger deficit at 4-0.

Sanchez has thrown 103 pitches and is likely done for the night. It's a mixed bag for the Tigers, who must like what they saw, for the most part, from Sanchez. It was just a big fourth inning that snowballed on him and will, ultimately, be the difference on the scoreboard.

Yan Gomes grounded out to leadoff the inning.

Top 7th: Indians 4, Tigers 0

The Tigers are showing very little life in the late innings as they went down in order in the seventh and are running out of at-bats in Cleveland.

Nick Castellanos grounded out, James McCann did the same and Anthony Gose made it a trifecta for Corey Kluber, who has thrown seven strong innings on 89 pitches.

It's safe to assume Kluber will be back out for the eighth.

Bottom 6th: Indians 4, Tigers 0

If it weren't for that awful fourth inning, we would have quite a pitcher's duel on our hands.

As it stands, though, the Tigers will just have to settle for the fact that Anibal Sanchez has looked good in five out of the six innings he's tossed tonight.

Francisco Lindor grounded out to first base, Michael Brantley popped out and Mike Napoli struck out looking to end the inning.

Sanchez has given up just three hits tonight, but unfortunately, all three came in that big fourth inning for the Tribe. He's struck out seven.

Top 6th: Indians 4, Tigers 0

Victor Martinez notched a one-out single, ripping one through the middle of the infield. Nothing more came of it, though, as Justin Upton grounded into an inning-ending double plays.

Corey Kluber has settled and thrown just 74 pitches. The Tigers are probably going to be left to regret the early opportunities they let fall by the wayside early in this game.

Miguel Cabrera grounded out to leadoff the inning.

Bottom 5th: Indians 4, Tigers 0

Anibal Sanchez dialed it back to the third inning when he was cruising through this game.

Hopefully for the Tigers, it's not too little, too late.

Sanchez struck out Tyler Naquin and Carlos Santana for his fifth and sixth strikeouts of the night. He got Jason Kipnis to ground out to first base to end the easy inning.

Top 5th: Indians 4, Tigers 0

The Tigers missed two big chances to get out in front tonight. The Indians didn't. Now the Tigers are left to wonder if they'll anymore opportunities against Corey Kluber, who set them down in order in the fifth.

Jose Iglesias grounded out, Ian Kinsler did the same and J.D. Martinez struck out on three pitches.

Kluber has five strikeouts and is in control of this game, for the time being. He's thrown 64 pitches.

Bottom 4th: Indians 4, Tigers 0

Anibal Sanchez was cruising through three innings. In the fourth, the wheels came off.

With one out and runners on first and second, Michael Brantley notched the first hit of the night for the Tribe, singling to right field and bringing home Carlos Santana from second base.

Mike Napoli doubled in the next at-bat to give Cleveland a 2-0 lead as he scored Francisco Lindor and left himself and Brantley in scoring position with one out. Brantley scored on a passed ball in the dirt to make it 3-0.

Yan Gomes kept the hit parade going, drilling a ball to center field over the head of Anthony Gose for a double that pushed the Tribe lead to 4-0.

Lonnie Chisenhall flew out to right field and Juan Uribe grounded out to finally bring the inning to an end.

Sanchez struggled with his control for the first time since walking Santana to leadoff the game, walking Santana for the second time to leadoff the inning. He came back to strike out Jason Kipnis, but then hit Francisco Lindor with a pitch to set the stage for Brantley.

After throwing 37 pitches over the course of the first three innings, Sanchez threw 26 in the fourth.

Top 4th: Tigers 0, Indians 0

Justin Upton hit a ball to the deepest part of center field, coming up just shy of a home run, but luckily for the Tigers, Tyler Naquin dropped the would-be leadoff out when his back came in contact with the ball.

With Upton on second, Nick Castellanos stroked his second single of the night to give the Tigers runners at the corners with nobody out. James McCann grounded to third and the Indians turned the double play while Upton, inexplicably, stayed at third base instead of breaking for home.

Anthony Gose struck out looking as the Tigers wasted a second big opportunity to get some runs off of Cleveland ace Corey Kluber.

Bottom 3rd: Tigers 0, Indians 0

A pitcher's duel has broken out in Cleveland as Anibal Sanchez set the Tribe down in order for the second consecutive inning and has actually faced the minimum amount of Indians hitters through three innings.

Lonnie Chisenhall grounded out to first base, and Juan Uribe and Tyler Naquin both struck out looking as Sanchez looks dialed in tonight in Cleveland.

Through three innings, Sanchez has thrown just 37 pitches.

Top 3rd: Tigers 0, Indians 0

Corey Kluber bounced back from a sketchy second inning to set the middle of the Tigers lineup down in order in the third inning.

J.D. Martinez flew out to center field to leadoff the inning, Miguel Cabrera struck out and Victor Martinez flew out to center in a drama-free frame.

Bottom 2nd: Tigers 0, Indians 0

Anibal Sanchez had himself a breezy second inning and set Cleveland down in order in the second inning.

Since walking Carolos Santana on four pitches to start the game, Sanchez has retired the next five hitters, hopefully showing that the early base on balls was nothing more than a blip on the radar.

Michael Brantley grounded out to first base, Mike Napoli popped out and Yan Gomes flied out to center field.

Top 2nd: Tigers 0, Indians 0

Corey Kluber gave up a one-out single to Nick Castellanos and followed by throwing eight consecutive balls to James McCann and Anthony Gose, loading the bases for Jose Iglesias.

Iglesias couldn't deliver, grounding into a fielder's choice to Mike Napoli, who got the second out of the inning at the plate. Ian Kinsler had his chances, fouling off a number of pitches, but he chased a high-heater to end the inning.

Justin Upton grounded out to second to leadoff the inning.

Bottom 1st: Tigers 0, Indians 0

Anibal Sanchez issued a four pitch walk to Carlos Santana to leadoff the bottom of the opening frame, but he bounced back to strike out Jason Kipnis before inducing an inning-ending double play off the bat of Francisco Lindor.

Nice job by Sanchez to not let the shaky start snowball on him. His confidence could have been shot early on in this one had he not settled down and gotten out of the inning with little drama.

Top 1st: Tigers 0, Indians 0

Miguel Cabrera notched a two-out single up the middle of the diamond off of reigning Cy Young award winner Corey Kluber, but Victor Martinez swung at the first pitch he saw and grounded out to first to end the inning.

Ian Kinsler bounced out back to the mound and J.D. Martinez grounded out to third to leadoff the inning.

It could be a long night for Tigers hitters as runs will probably be at a premium against Kluber. Anibal Sanchez is going to have bring his A-game.

TIGERS LINEUP

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B

2. J.D. Martinez, RF

3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B

4. Victor Martinez, DH

5. Justin Upton, LF

6. Nick Castellanos, 3B

7. James McCann, C

8. Anthony Gose, CF

9. Jose Iglesias, SS

Anibal Sanchez, P

INDIANS LINEUP

1. Carlos Santana, DH

2. Jason Kipnis, 2B

3. Francisco Lindor, SS

4. Michael Brantley, LF

5. Mike Napoli, 1B

6. Yan Gomes, C

7. Lonnie Chisenhall, RF

8. Juan Uribe, 3B

9. Tyler Naquin, CF

Corey Kluber, P

TIGERS VS. INDIANS

When: Wednesday, 6:10 p.m.

Where: Progressive Field, Cleveland

Pitching matchup: RHP Anibal Sanchez (3-2, 6.08) vs. RHP Corey Kluber (1-3, 4.24)

Local TV: Fox Sports Detroit

National TV: None

Internet streaming: MLB.TV

Local radio: 97.1 FM

Satellite radio: SIRI Internet 849