DETROIT — It was tough to tell what was colder on Thursday: snowy Detroit or the Cleveland Indians bats through the first eight innings.
Despite a strong performance from starter Shane Bieber, who struck out 12 batters in six innings, the Indians' offense wasn't able to provide any support until the top of the ninth inning. Ultimately, Roberto Perez's two-run home run wasn't enough, as Cleveland lost its season opener to the Tigers 3-2.
What follows is a running live blog of Thursday's season opener, complete with highlights, analysis and score updates.
End of game: Tigers 3, Indians 2
Gregory Soto enters the game as the Tigers closer. Josh Naylor grounds out, but Amed Rosario reaches on an infield single, bringing the tying run to the on-deck circle. A Roberto Perez 2-run home run gives Cleveland its first runs of the game and Ben Gamel walk puts a runner on base after an Andres Gimenez ground out. A Cesar Hernandez fly out proceeds to end the game.
End of 8th: Tigers 3, Indians 0
James Karinchak takes the mound for the Indians and gets three outs in four batters as Cleveland comes to the plate down to its final three outs.
Middle of 8th: Tigers 3, Indians 0
Jose Ramirez draws a one-out walk and an Eddie Rosario single puts two on base. Once again, the Indians fail to capitalize with Franmil Reyes grounding into an inning-ending double play.
End of 7th: Tigers 3, Indians 0
Bryan Shaw comes in to relieve Shane Bieber, who finishes the day with 12 strikeouts. Shaw walks Robbie Grossman but gets three straight outs to escape the inning unscathed.
Middle of 7th: Tigers 3, Indians 0
Roberto Perez, Andres Gimenez and a pinch-hitting Ben Gamel each strike out as the Indians go down 1-2-3.
End of 6th: Tigers 3, Indians 0
Shane Bieber strikes out two to bring his total to 12 and a Jordan Luplow diving catch on a JaCoby Jones fly ball ends the inning.
Middle of 6th: Tigers 3, Indians 0
Eddie Rosario and Franmil Reyes ground out to start the inning but a Josh Naylor single leads to the Tigers bringing in Jose Cisnero for Matthew Boyd.
End of 5th: Tigers 3, Indians 0
Willi Castro reaches on a leadoff single and reaches second on a wild pitch but Bieber is able to prevent any damage, with a Jonathan Schoop strikeout sandwiched between Miguel Cabrera and Nomar Mazara groundouts.
Middle of 5th: Tigers 3, Indians 0
Roberto Perez reaches on a lead off walk but the Andres Gimenez pops out and Jordan Luplow grounds into a force out. Luplow reaches second on a wild pitch and Cesar Hernandez walks but Jose Ramirez flies out to end the half-inning.
End of 4th: Tigers 3, Indians 0
Shane Bieber adds another walk but adds two more strikeouts, bringing his total for the day to nine.
Middle of 4th: Tigers 3, Indians 0
Jose Ramirez reaches on a leadoff single and the Indians winds up with two on with one out following a Franmil Reyes walk. Once again, however, Cleveland fails to capitalize with a Josh Naylor ground out and Yu Chang pop out ending the inning.
End of 3rd: Tigers 3, Indians 0
A Miguel Cabrera fly out is followed by a Jonathan Schoop walk but Shane Bieber strikes out Nomar Mazara and Wilson Ramos, bringing his K total for the day to seven.
Middle of 3rd: Tigers 3, Indians 0
Roberto Perez reaches first with a leadoff walk but the Indians are unable to take advantage with Andres Gimenez hitting into a force out and Jordan Luplow striking out and Cesar Hernandez grounding into a force out to end the half-inning.
End of 2nd: Tigers 3, Indians 0
Shane Bieber tallies three strikeouts but needs four outs as Victor Reyes reaches first on a wild pitch. The error proves costly with JaCoby Jones knocking him on with a double on the very next at-bat.
Middle of 2nd: Tigers 2, Indians 0
Indians go down 1-2-3 with a Josh Naylor strikeout sandwiched between fly outs from Franmil Reyes and Yu Chang.
End of 1st: Tigers 2, Indians 0
Jeimer Candelario reaches base on a one-out single and Miguel Cabrera brings him in with a 2-run home run to right field. Shane Bieber ends the inning by striking out Nomar Mazara.
Middle of the 1st: Indians 0, Tigers 0
Cesar Hernandez notches the Indians' first hit of the season with a double to left field. Cleveland is unable to capitalize with Jose Ramirez flying out and Eddie Rosario grounding out to end the top half of the inning.