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Indians’ offense too much for Tigers

CLEVELAND (AP) — Jason Kipnis hit a tiebreaking triple in the eighth inning, right fielder Tyler Naquin made a game-saving play in the ninth, and the Cleveland Indians held on for a 7-6 win over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night.

Kipnis’ triple — which was initially ruled a home run, a call that was overturned after a replay review — and Jake Bauers’ sacrifice fly put Cleveland ahead 7-5, but the ninth inning had plenty of drama.

JaCoby Jones led off with a double off closer Brad Hand, the Indians’ fifth reliever, and scored on Christin Stewart’s single. Nicholas Castellanos sent a sinking liner to right-center, and Naquin made a diving catch, got to his feet and threw to first for a double play.

Miguel Cabrera popped out to end it, giving Hand his 21st save in 21 opportunities. Adam Cimber (3-2) retired two batters on six pitches in the eighth.

Jose Ramirez led off the eighth with a bunt single off Joe Jimenez (2-5). Kipnis drove a 3-2 pitch to center, and Jones attempted to make a leaping catch, but the ball bounced back into the field of play. Jones retrieved the ball and the Tigers relayed it to the infield, but second base umpire Adrian Johnson ruled it a home run.

Detroit manager Ron Gardenhire challenged, and replays showed the ball hit the yellow line atop the fence. After a review of 2 minutes, 17 seconds, Ramirez, who was running on the pitch, was awarded home plate and Kipnis was given a triple.

Cleveland rallied from a 5-2 deficit after Trevor Bauer was pulled without retiring a batter in the fifth, his shortest outing of the season.

Naquin homered to start the fifth, and Jordan Luplow began Cleveland’s tying rally in the sixth with a home run. Roberto Perez’s RBI single tied the game.

Bauer dominated the Tigers on Sunday, allowing four hits in the first complete-game shutout of his career, but the right-hander gave up five runs and 10 hits Friday.

Carlos Santana hit a two-run homer in the first, but the Tigers struck quickly against Bauer. Brandon Dixon homered in the second and Nicholas Castellanos tied the game in the third with an RBI double. Gordon Beckham had a run-scoring double in the fourth.

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