Carrasco 4-hits Tigers, Tribe’s run at 8

For eight straight games, they have been the vastly superior team – in every phase of the game.

Carlos Carrasco pitched a four-hit shutout while getting two home runs from Francisco Lindor and one each from Carlos Santana and Yan Gomes on Saturday to help the surging Cleveland Indians to a 6-0 victory that was their eighth straight win overall and eighth in as many games with the Detroit Tigers.Carrasco (3-2) only saw two Detroit runners get as far as second base – on doubles in the first and fifth innings – as he struck out seven and walked one. The Tribe has outscored the Tigers, 51-16. There will be some lingering feelings that have carried over from what transpired in the previous two series and a desire to atone against the American League Central leaders.

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus would not address whether Sanchez would remain in the rotation. “But we play them nine more times”.

“We’re hot right now and we’re going to stay hot”, said reliever Kyle Ryan, who had a fantastic series against Seattle. “I know we’ve asked a lot of them lately, and that part of it was obviously good”. “You can’t dwell on the past in this game”. Sanchez allowed two home runs in the first inning, but he did retire the Indians in order in the fourth and fifth before coming out of the game. It’s cool because we didn’t even need my home run.

Said Lindor: “The thing about our starters is how consistent, how positive they are with each other”. Santana hit a change-up and Lindor a curve. Meanwhile, Mark Lowe had a very effective outing, albeit one inning, throwing just seven pitches, six of which were for strikes.

“But the damage had already been done”. On Tuesday in a no-decision against the Mariners, Verlander put up two runs on six hits across seven innings.

Pitching for the first time in four days, closer Cody Allen retired the first batter he faced in the ninth before striking out Andrew Romine. “My fastball was good and my location was good”. Anibal Sanchez will return to the starting rotation for Detroit this afternoon.

“Carrasco was awesome. The first couple innings he didn’t look like he was too comfortable, then he settled in”.

Sanchez, as well as rookie Michael Fulmer, could get starts at Tampa. “I made plenty of mistakes all night – 0-2 and I’m giving up hits all night”, he said. “I think that’s what’s going on”. I am focused. I went to the bullpen and now I am back in the rotation. I was just trying to get my work done, trying not to remember anything. Dare I say “Not one, not two, not three, etc.”Now I know everybody has been “All In” on the Cavs all summer so far, and rightfully so, but with the conclusion of the National Basketball Association season, it is time to turn our heads towards the next title contenders in Cleveland.I’m not sure how many of you know this based on their attendance, but the Indians are currently in first place in the division”.

Lindor’s second homer came in the eighth – again down the line in right.

Not much doing for either team in the latter third of the game. Miguel Cabrera hit a one-out single in the ninth, his 205th career hit against the Indians.

Tigers offense: Lifeless against Carrasco.

“He had really good stuff”, Castellanos said of Carrasco.