CLEVELAND -- Michael Fulmer won't pitch in his first All-Star Game, not because he isn't worthy.
Under the bright lights and on a big stage Sunday night, Fulmer again showed why he's Miami-bound.
Fulmer outlasted All-Star teammate Corey Kluber, Alex Presley hit a tiebreaking, two-run double and the Detroit Tigers hung on late to salvage the series finale with a 5-3 win over the Cleveland Indians on Sunday night.
Fulmer (9-6) dominated the defending AL champions until the seventh inning, when he gave up a two-run homer to Indians All-Star third baseman Jose Ramirez.
Detroit's shaky bullpen then barely held together over the last three innings. Shane Greene worked out of a bases-loaded threat in the seventh and Justin Wilson did the same in the eighth while getting five outs for his 10th save in 11 tries.
Because Fulmer started the final game before the break, he'll watch the All-Star Game from the bullpen on Tuesday night. However, with one last chance to show his stuff, he made the most of a nationally televised matchup against Kluber by beating the Central-leading Indians.
"Obviously the pitcher he is, an All-Star as well, and his success the last four or five games, you see that on TV," Fulmer said. "I knew I had to put up zeroes for the most part."
Fulmer held Cleveland to one run and three hits over the first six innings and won his third start in a row.
After the Indians climbed within 5-3 in the seventh, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus pulled Fulmer and turned to his bullpen, which came in with the league's worst ERA.
And while Greene and Wilson walked the high-wire during their outings, they made sure the Tigers ended the unofficial first half on a high note.
"Greenie had my back and J-Will had Greenie's back," Fulmer said. "The bullpen did great."
A win over Cleveland is a positive way for Detroit to enter the break. The Tigers (39-4) had a rough first half and there are trade rumors swirling around the club, which could be looking to unload players and contracts before the July 31 deadline.
"We salvaged a win going into the break, not feeling sour about the way the game has gone," Ausmus said. "Hopefully the guys can have nice four days off and reset and be ready to go."
The Indians (47-40) were again without manager Terry Francona, who underwent a cardiac ablation to correct an irregular heartbeat and spent four days at the Cleveland Clinic. Francona is expected to rejoin the club following the All-Star break in Oakland.
The Tigers made Kluber, who didn't get any run support for the second straight game, work hard during his five-inning stint. He allowed just one run, and had his team record streak of consecutive games with at least 10 strikeouts end at five.
"They put together some good at-bats," Kluber said. "I didn't have my best command tonight. But they put together a lot of tough at-bats and they did a good job of extending some counts and had a lot of baserunners in a couple innings. I was able to keep it to just one run, but they were able to get the pitch count up pretty good."
Held to three hits in six innings, the Indians finally strung something together off Fulmer in the seventh. Edwin Encarnacion singled and with fans singing, "Jose, Jose, Jose, Jose," Ramirez connected for his 17th homer. Carlos Santana followed with a single and Ausmus brought in Greene, who got a fielder's choice and two strikeouts to preserve the two-run lead.
The Indians threatened again in the eighth, but Wilson worked out of another mess.
"That certainly is a well-earned save," Ausmus said. "Clearly having the next four days off played into it."
TALKING TRADES
The Tigers could be active sellers at the deadline. Cabrera said Detroit's players are aware their team might look very different in a few weeks.
"We're human. We think. We feel everything, but they have to do what they have to do to make this team better," he said. "It's not my business. It's baseball. It's part of it."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Tigers: LHP Daniel Norris (strained left groin) hasn't recovered enough to throw during the All-Star break and it's unclear when he'll return to the rotation. He went on the DL Thursday.
Indians: 2B Jason Kipnis is back on the DL with a strained right hamstring. Mills said Kipnis will likely be out longer than 10 days. Kipnis began the season on the DL with a sore right shoulder and has had a stiff neck. ... RF Lonnie Chisenhall left in the fourth with an injured right calf that could also require a stay on the DL.
UP NEXT
Tigers: Following the break, Detroit opens a three-game series at home against Toronto on Friday.
Indians: Cleveland will be represented by five players at the All-Star Game.
Under the bright lights and on a big stage Sunday night, Fulmer again showed why he's Miami-bound.
Fulmer outlasted All-Star teammate Corey Kluber, Alex Presley hit a tiebreaking, two-run double and the Detroit Tigers hung on late to salvage the series finale with a 5-3 win over the Cleveland Indians on Sunday night.
Fulmer (9-6) dominated the defending AL champions until the seventh inning, when he gave up a two-run homer to Indians All-Star third baseman Jose Ramirez.
Detroit's shaky bullpen then barely held together over the last three innings. Shane Greene worked out of a bases-loaded threat in the seventh and Justin Wilson did the same in the eighth while getting five outs for his 10th save in 11 tries.
Because Fulmer started the final game before the break, he'll watch the All-Star Game from the bullpen on Tuesday night. However, with one last chance to show his stuff, he made the most of a nationally televised matchup against Kluber by beating the Central-leading Indians.
"Obviously the pitcher he is, an All-Star as well, and his success the last four or five games, you see that on TV," Fulmer said. "I knew I had to put up zeroes for the most part."
Fulmer held Cleveland to one run and three hits over the first six innings and won his third start in a row.
After the Indians climbed within 5-3 in the seventh, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus pulled Fulmer and turned to his bullpen, which came in with the league's worst ERA.
And while Greene and Wilson walked the high-wire during their outings, they made sure the Tigers ended the unofficial first half on a high note.
"Greenie had my back and J-Will had Greenie's back," Fulmer said. "The bullpen did great."
A win over Cleveland is a positive way for Detroit to enter the break. The Tigers (39-4) had a rough first half and there are trade rumors swirling around the club, which could be looking to unload players and contracts before the July 31 deadline.
"We salvaged a win going into the break, not feeling sour about the way the game has gone," Ausmus said. "Hopefully the guys can have nice four days off and reset and be ready to go."
The Indians (47-40) were again without manager Terry Francona, who underwent a cardiac ablation to correct an irregular heartbeat and spent four days at the Cleveland Clinic. Francona is expected to rejoin the club following the All-Star break in Oakland.
The Tigers made Kluber, who didn't get any run support for the second straight game, work hard during his five-inning stint. He allowed just one run, and had his team record streak of consecutive games with at least 10 strikeouts end at five.
"They put together some good at-bats," Kluber said. "I didn't have my best command tonight. But they put together a lot of tough at-bats and they did a good job of extending some counts and had a lot of baserunners in a couple innings. I was able to keep it to just one run, but they were able to get the pitch count up pretty good."
Held to three hits in six innings, the Indians finally strung something together off Fulmer in the seventh. Edwin Encarnacion singled and with fans singing, "Jose, Jose, Jose, Jose," Ramirez connected for his 17th homer. Carlos Santana followed with a single and Ausmus brought in Greene, who got a fielder's choice and two strikeouts to preserve the two-run lead.
The Indians threatened again in the eighth, but Wilson worked out of another mess.
"That certainly is a well-earned save," Ausmus said. "Clearly having the next four days off played into it."
TALKING TRADES
The Tigers could be active sellers at the deadline. Cabrera said Detroit's players are aware their team might look very different in a few weeks.
"We're human. We think. We feel everything, but they have to do what they have to do to make this team better," he said. "It's not my business. It's baseball. It's part of it."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Tigers: LHP Daniel Norris (strained left groin) hasn't recovered enough to throw during the All-Star break and it's unclear when he'll return to the rotation. He went on the DL Thursday.
Indians: 2B Jason Kipnis is back on the DL with a strained right hamstring. Mills said Kipnis will likely be out longer than 10 days. Kipnis began the season on the DL with a sore right shoulder and has had a stiff neck. ... RF Lonnie Chisenhall left in the fourth with an injured right calf that could also require a stay on the DL.
UP NEXT
Tigers: Following the break, Detroit opens a three-game series at home against Toronto on Friday.
Indians: Cleveland will be represented by five players at the All-Star Game.
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Detroit - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Corey Kluber pitching for Cleveland | DET | CLE |
| Kinsler flied out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Avila struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Upton grounded out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cleveland - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Michael Fulmer pitching for Detroit | DET | CLE |
| Zimmer popped out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Lindor grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Brantley lined out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Corey Kluber pitching for Cleveland | DET | CLE |
| Cabrera grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| J.D. Martinez struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| V. Martínez grounded out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cleveland - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Michael Fulmer pitching for Detroit | DET | CLE |
| Encarnación flied out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Ramírez reached on infield single to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Chisenhall grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, Ramírez out at second. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Corey Kluber pitching for Cleveland | DET | CLE |
| Castellanos struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Presley grounded out to pitcher. | 0 | 0 |
| Iglesias doubled to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Kinsler singled to center, Iglesias scored. | 1 | 0 |
| Avila struck out swinging. | 1 | 0 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cleveland - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Michael Fulmer pitching for Detroit | DET | CLE |
| Santana grounded out to second. | 1 | 0 |
| Gomes grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 0 |
| González grounded out to third. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Corey Kluber pitching for Cleveland | DET | CLE |
| Upton lined out to center. | 1 | 0 |
| Cabrera walked. | 1 | 0 |
| J.D. Martinez struck out swinging. | 1 | 0 |
| Cabrera to second on wild pitch by Kluber. | 1 | 0 |
| V. Martínez flied out to center. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cleveland - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Michael Fulmer pitching for Detroit | DET | CLE |
| Zimmer singled to right. | 1 | 0 |
| Lindor flied out to left. | 1 | 0 |
| Zimmer safe at second on throwing error on pickoff attempt by pitcher Fulmer. | 1 | 0 |
| Brantley grounded out to second, Zimmer to third. | 1 | 0 |
| Encarnación doubled to left, Zimmer scored. | 1 | 1 |
| Ramírez intentionally walked. | 1 | 1 |
| Guyer struck out looking. | 1 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Corey Kluber pitching for Cleveland | DET | CLE |
| Castellanos struck out swinging. | 1 | 1 |
| Presley walked. | 1 | 1 |
| Iglesias singled to right, Presley to second. | 1 | 1 |
| Kinsler struck out swinging. | 1 | 1 |
| Avila walked, Presley to third, Iglesias to second. | 1 | 1 |
| Upton struck out swinging. | 1 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cleveland - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Michael Fulmer pitching for Detroit | DET | CLE |
| Santana flied out to left. | 1 | 1 |
| Gomes flied out to right. | 1 | 1 |
| González flied out to right. | 1 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Nick Goody pitching for Cleveland | DET | CLE |
| Cabrera walked. | 1 | 1 |
| J.D. Martinez grounded into fielder's choice to third, Cabrera out at second. | 1 | 1 |
| V. Martínez singled to right, J.D. Martinez to second. | 1 | 1 |
| Castellanos walked, J.D. Martinez to third, V. Martínez to second. | 1 | 1 |
| Otero relieved Goody. | 1 | 1 |
| Presley doubled to left, J.D. Martinez and V. Martínez scored, Castellanos to third. | 3 | 1 |
| Iglesias reached on infield single to first, Castellanos scored, Presley to third. | 4 | 1 |
| Kinsler grounded out to pitcher, Iglesias to second. | 4 | 1 |
| Avila intentionally walked. | 4 | 1 |
| Upton grounded out to second. | 4 | 1 |
| 3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cleveland - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Michael Fulmer pitching for Detroit | DET | CLE |
| Zimmer grounded out to second. | 4 | 1 |
| Lindor grounded out to second. | 4 | 1 |
| Brantley grounded out to third. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Dan Otero pitching for Cleveland | DET | CLE |
| Cabrera grounded out to third. | 4 | 1 |
| J.D. Martinez singled to center. | 4 | 1 |
| V. Martínez struck out swinging, J.D. Martinez stole second, J.D. Martinez to third on throwing error by catcher Gomes. | 4 | 1 |
| Castellanos singled to left, J.D. Martinez scored. | 5 | 1 |
| McAllister relieved Otero. | 5 | 1 |
| Presley singled to left, Castellanos to third. | 5 | 1 |
| Iglesias lined out to second. | 5 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Cleveland - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Michael Fulmer pitching for Detroit | DET | CLE |
| Encarnación singled to right. | 5 | 1 |
| Ramírez homered to right (375 feet), Encarnación scored. | 5 | 3 |
| Guyer singled to right. | 5 | 3 |
| Santana singled to right, Guyer to second. | 5 | 3 |
| Greene relieved Fulmer. | 5 | 3 |
| Gomes struck out swinging. | 5 | 3 |
| Almonte grounded into fielder's choice to second, Santana out at second, Guyer to third. | 5 | 3 |
| Zimmer struck out looking. | 5 | 3 |
| 2 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Zach McAllister pitching for Cleveland | DET | CLE |
| Kinsler grounded out to pitcher. | 5 | 3 |
| Avila grounded out to second. | 5 | 3 |
| Upton struck out swinging. | 5 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cleveland - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Shane Greene pitching for Detroit | DET | CLE |
| Lindor lined out to left. | 5 | 3 |
| Brantley walked. | 5 | 3 |
| Encarnación walked, Brantley to second. | 5 | 3 |
| J. Wilson relieved Greene. | 5 | 3 |
| Ramírez grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Encarnación out at second, Brantley to third. | 5 | 3 |
| Guyer walked, Ramírez to second. | 5 | 3 |
| Santana grounded out to third. | 5 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Bryan Shaw pitching for Cleveland | DET | CLE |
| Cabrera lined out to center. | 5 | 3 |
| J.D. Martinez reached on infield single to shortstop. | 5 | 3 |
| V. Martínez lined out to left. | 5 | 3 |
| Castellanos lined out to center. | 5 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cleveland - Bottom of 9th | SCORE | |
| Justin Wilson pitching for Detroit | DET | CLE |
| Gomes fouled out to first. | 5 | 3 |
| Urshela lined out to center. | 5 | 3 |
| Zimmer singled to right. | 5 | 3 |
| Lindor struck out swinging. | 5 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit Tigers | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Kinsler 2B | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 24 | .240 | .323 | .387 |
| Avila C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 18 | .299 | .423 | .535 |
| Upton LF | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 24 | .265 | .350 | .491 |
| Cabrera 1B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 23 | .264 | .357 | .440 |
| J.D. Martinez RF | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 16 | .299 | .381 | .610 |
| V. Martínez DH | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 28 | .253 | .322 | .366 |
| Castellanos 3B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 24 | .248 | .313 | .433 |
Romine 3B
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .226 | .294 | .345 |
| Presley CF | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 14 | .286 | .355 | .393 |
| Iglesias SS | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 | .247 | .280 | .347 |
| Totals | 37 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 182 | |||
| BATTING 2B: Iglesias (18, Kluber); Presley (3, Otero) RBI: Kinsler (23), Presley 2 (9), Iglesias (24), Castellanos (46) 2-out RBI: Kinsler, Castellanos Tigers RISP: 4-10 (Kinsler 1-3, V. Martínez 0-1, Presley 1-1, Castellanos 1-1, Iglesias 1-2, Upton 0-2) Team LOB: 11 | ||||||||||
| BASERUNNING SB: J.D. Martinez (1, 2nd base off Otero/Gomes) | ||||||||||
| FIELDING E: Fulmer (1, throw) DP: 1 (Kinsler-Iglesias-Cabrera). | ||||||||||
Game Notes
| RF CHISENHALL (RIGHT CALF INJURY) LEFT GAME TOP 4TH |
Game Information
| Stadium | Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH |
| Attendance | 24,519 (66.5% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:49 |
| Weather | 75 degrees, partly cloudy |
| Wind | 3 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Ryan Blakney, First Base - Jerry Layne, Second Base - Dan Bellino, Third Base - Marvin Hudson |
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