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GAME LOG
DETROIT (AP) -- Dave Burba gave Cleveland a strong game just when
the Indians needed one.
But, why wouldn't he? Burba never loses to Detroit.
David Justice and Jim Thome homered and Burba continued his
mastery over the Tigers as the Indians snapped Detroit's four-game
winning streak with a 4-1 victory Thursday night.
"That was big, the way Burba came on," Thome said. "He gave
us a lift. We needed a win and he gave us a good game."
Burba (4-1), seeking his first decision in five starts since
April 28, held the Tigers to four hits with five walks and seven
strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings.
Burba, who was 3-0 against Detroit last season, improved to 6-0
lifetime against the Tigers with a nice combination of speed and
breaking pitches.
"Burba gave us exactly what we needed," Cleveland manager
Charlie Manuel said. "When he threw the fastball, he threw it for
strikes. Most of the time, though, he had them chasing the ball."
Brian Moehler (1-3), making his second start since an emergency
appendectomy April 22, gave up three runs on eight hits with no
walks in 7 1/3 innings. In his last two starts, however, the Tigers
haven't scored any runs for Moehler.
"That's the way it goes," Moehler said. "I could go out next
time and get 10 runs. I know it's not like the guys aren't
trying."
The well-pitched contest followed free-swinging 10-4 and 10-9
Detroit wins in the first two games of the three-game series.
"Any time you hold Cleveland to three runs for a seven-inning
stint, you've done a pretty good job," Detroit manager Phil Garner
said. "They pitched a little bit better than we did."
After Omar Vizquel grounded into a first-inning double play,
Justice -- moved from sixth to third in the order in a lineup change
just before the game -- homered into the right-field bullpen.
The game settled into a nice pitching duel between Burba and
Moehler, who had allowed only seven hits between them until the
seventh.
In the sixth, the Tigers had runners on first and second with
one out after Burba walked two. But the threat fizzled when Bobby
Higginson struck out and Gregg Jefferies was caught trying to steal
third for an inning-ending double play.
Manny Ramirez started the two-run Cleveland seventh with a
double and Thome followed with a long homer, his 13th, over the
wall near the flagpole in left-center on a 3-0 pitch.
"This ballpark's too small for Thome," Manuel said, laughing.
"Man, he's strong. He'll hit the ball out of the park anywhere."
Ramirez tripled and scored on Richie Sexson's sacrifice fly in
the ninth.
Burba gave up a single and a walk in the Detroit eighth and
reliever Steve Karsay was greeted by Gregg Jefferies' RBI single.
Karsay finished for his ninth save.
Game
notes
Cleveland's lineup changes were necessary because Kenny
Lofton, who was leading off in the original lineup, was scratched
shortly before the game with a sore left elbow. ... Indians RHP
Jaret Wright, who went on the 15-day disabled list May 18, will
return to start Saturday against the Chicago White Sox. ... Roberto
Alomar extended his hitting streak to 17 straight games. ... The
Indians have homered in 16 straight games, two shy of the club
record set in 1959 and matched in 1996.
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