Cabrera remains at 498 homers, Tigers edge Indians 2-1

CLEVELAND (AP) — Miguel Cabrera remained two home runs shy of 500, but Tyler Alexander tossed a season-high 5 1/3 scoreless innings as the Detroit Tigers edged the Cleveland Indians 2-1 on Saturday night.

Cabrera went 0 for 3 with a walk, keeping his career total at 498 homers. The veteran slugger is trying to become the 28th player in major league history with 500. He also has 2,946 hits during his 19 seasons.

Alexander (2-1) allowed four hits without issuing a walk, striking out four in his seventh appearance since moving into the rotation. The left-hander had not gone longer than four innings in 30 previous outings this year.

Former Tigers catcher Wilson Ramos spoiled the shutout with a leadoff homer in the ninth off Gregory Soto, who picked up his 13th save in 14 opportunities.

Detroit opened the scoring in the second when Jeimer Candelario led off with a double and came home on a sacrifice fly by Zack Short. The Tigers made it 2-0 in the fifth on an RBI single by Akil Baddoo, plating Victor Reyes.

Indians rookie Eli Morgan (1-4) gave up two runs over seven innings in his longest start in the majors. The right-hander struck out three, retiring the final nine batters he faced and getting 15 of his 21 outs in the air.

Cleveland loaded the bases in the sixth and seventh, but Michael Fulmer and José Cisnero entered to quell the threats.

Fulmer retired José Ramirez and Franmil Reyes in order to end the sixth, while Cisnero coaxed Myles Straw into a weak grounder to wrap up the seventh.

The Indians then put two runners on to begin the eighth, only to have Cisnero get three straight outs.

Jonathan Schoop, who agreed with the Tigers before the game on a $15 million, two-year contract covering 2022 and 2023, went 2 for 4. Eric Haase also had two hits and stole a base.

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source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Cabrera-remains-at-498-homers-Tigers-edge-16372430.php