Indians’ Shaw gives up Avila’s 2-run HR in 8th

DETROIT (AP) — Bryan Shaw has been as dependable as they come for the Cleveland Indians in relief this season.

However, one pitch proved costly for the right hander and his teammates on Saturday night.

Shaw (5-4) gave up Alex Avila’s two-out, two-run homer in the eighth as the third-place Indians blew a lead and lost 5-4 to the AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers to fall 5 1/2 games back.

Avila sent Shaw’s full-count pitch into the right-field stands for his 11th home run.

“Just a bad pitch . bad location,” said Shaw, who leads the league with 73 appearances and has a 2.42 ERA this season

The pitch was a slider that got too much of the plate.

“It was up enough to get a good swing on it,” Avila said.

Detroit veteran right fielder Torii Hunter saved two runs in the top of eighth with a two-out, diving catch of Yan Gomes’ short fly ball with runners on second and third.

“Torii Hunter catches that ball, saves two runs. A lot more goes into it than just one pitch,” Cleveland manager Terry Francona said.

Hunter talked about the catch.

“Just a little bleeder off the end of the bat, just tried to do everything I could right there to get under that ball,” he said. “It was sinking pretty fast but I just said, ‘Feet don’t fail me now.'”

Michael Brantley homered for the Indians.

Cleveland starter Danny Salazar gave up three runs and six hits in 5 2-3 innings, walking one and striking out seven.

Mike Aviles’ two-out, two-run double into the right-field corner in the fifth gave the Indians a 4-3 lead.

Brantley it a two-run homer in the first against Kyle Lobstein, connecting on the 10th pitch of the at-bats. Brantley has 19 home runs overall this season, and is batting .400 (30 for 75) against Detroit this season with three home runs and 15 RBIs.

The Tigers tied it at 2 in the third on Ian Kinsler’s RBI single and a sacrifice fly by Hunter.

Victor Martinez hit a solo homer in the fourth off Danny Salazar.

Joba Chamberlain (2-5) pitched an inning of scoreless relief to get the win. Joe Nathan worked the ninth for his 31st save.

INSTANT REPLAY REVERSAL

Detroit manager Brad Ausmus won an instant replay challenge in the top of the eighth. J.B. Shuck was originally ruled safe at first on an infield single to shortstop Andrew Romine. But after a 39-second review, the ruling on the field was overturned.

VICTOR MARTINEZ HITS INDIANS

Former Indian Victor Martinez is hitting .343 (23 for 67) this season with seven home runs and 15 RBIs against Cleveland and .362 (85 for 236) with 12 homers and 54 RBIs against the Indians in his career.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Indians: Ryan Raburn started in right field but left after the third because of a hyperextended left knee. Francona said he would see how Raburn feels on Sunday morning. Raburn said the doctor didn’t think it was too serious and that Raburn shouldn’t miss more than a couple of days. He was walking with a limp after the game.

Tigers: RHP Anibal Sanchez, on the disabled list with a strained right pectoral, played long toss from a distance of 120 feet before the game and said he felt “very good”. Manager Brad Ausmus said if Sanchez doesn’t have a setback, he will long toss again on Sunday and throw off the mound in the bullpen on Monday.

UP NEXT

The wrapup of the three-game weekend series Sunday matches Tigers RHP Justin Verlander (13-12, 4.82) against Trevor Bauer (5-8, 4.12). Verlander is 3-1 in his last four starts despite a 5.11 ERA.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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