No Quit In Tribe
Things have been coming together for the Cleveland Indians lately, and they don’t appear to be slowing down any time soon.
The surging Indians look to win 10 straight games for the first time in over six years on Wednesday as they try for a three-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers.
Oddsmakers from SBG Global have made Detroit -170 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for tonight’s game, the over/under has been set at 8.5 total runs (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 74% of bets for this game have been placed on Cleveland +160 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
Cleveland (64-67) secured its season-high ninth consecutive victory – tying its mark from June 10-19, 2005 – by beating Detroit 10-4 on Tuesday.
Cliff Lee earned his AL-leading 19th win, while Ben Francisco hit a pair of two-run homers for the Indians, who moved three games under .500 for the first time since May 24.
Despite a double-digit deficit in the division standings, they also overtook the Tigers (64-68) for third place in the AL Central.
"I just feel like we’re finding different ways to win ballgames," said Indians manager Eric Wedge, whose team has gone 14-3 since Aug. 8.
The Indians are trying to complete a perfect six-game road trip for the first time since Aug. 5-11, 2005. If they do that, they’ll also win 10 straight contests for the first time since April 3-13, 2002.
Looking to reach both marks, Cleveland hands the ball to Fausto Carmona (6-5, 4.40 ERA) as he tries to win back-to-back starts for the first time since April 17 and 24. The right-hander conceded an unearned run and six hits, while fanning five in six innings of a 7-5 victory at Texas on Friday.
"He was real good," Wedge told the Indians’ official Web site. "He threw well and under control in a tough ballpark to pitch in."
Carmona is 2-1 with a 3.24 ERA in six road starts, and he’s 2-2 with a 3.18 ERA in five career games at Detroit.
The right-hander is 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA in two starts against the Tigers this year – both at home.
Detroit has dropped three straight overall and seven of its last nine at Comerica Park. Edgar Renteria hit a two-run homer Tuesday, but the Tigers were unable to overcome two errors committed during Cleveland’s six-run third inning.
"It shouldn’t have been as bad as it looked," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "We just didn’t make plays that we should have. We just couldn’t stop the bleeding."
Leyland hopes for an improved defensive effort behind starter Justin Verlander (10-13, 4.42), who hasn’t allowed an earned run in winning his last two starts, spanning 12 2-3 innings.
The right-hander surrendered eight hits – all singles – and fanned six over 6 2-3 innings of a 4-3 victory at Kansas City on Friday.
Verlander, though is just 1-3 with a 5.84 ERA in four starts against the Indians this season.
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