DETROIT — Miguel Cabrera hit a two-out, two-run single in the fifth inning as part of his 3 RBI-day to help the Detroit Tigers beat the Guardians 8-2 on Wednesday, completing a four-game sweep against Cleveland for the first time since 2013.
Tigers' pitcher Michael Pineda (2-3) allowed two runs and five hits over five innings, then four teammates combined to pitch four innings of scoreless relief.
Detroit is 7-2 against the Guardians this year and is set up to win the season series against them for the first time since 2015.
Franmil Reyes hit a solo shot off Pineda in the second to start the score for Cleveland, but the Tigers went ahead in the home half of the inning when Kody Clemens and Tucker Barnhart hit RBI singles.
The Guardians went ahead briefly in the fifth on Steven Kwan's double. But in the bottom of the fifth, Javier Baez hit a game-tying single and Cabrera's two-run single gave Detroit a 5-2 lead.
Cleveland's Shane Bieber (4-4) gave up five runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out six over 5 2/3 innings.
Guardians 2B Andres Gimenez was not in the lineup. “We took him out (Tuesday) night because he got hit in the knee pretty hard," manager Terry Francona said. “We were hoping that would help. He came in, and he’s pretty sore."
After a day off, Cleveland heads to Kansas City for a series that starts Friday. RHP Aaron Civale (2-5, 7.04 ERA) gets the start for the Guardians; the Royals haven't announced their starter.
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