Ex-Hog delivers, ends skid

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Drew Smyly throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Indians, Sunday, July 20, 2014 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Drew Smyly throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Indians, Sunday, July 20, 2014 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

DETROIT -- Drew Smyly acknowledged thinking about the possibility of throwing a no-hitter.

When Yan Gomes broke up his bid with a two-out double in the fifth, Smyly shifted his focus to simply winning the game to help his team end a skid.

Smyly (Little Rock Central, Arkansas Razorbacks) allowed four hits and matched his career high by pitching seven innings, and the Detroit Tigers beat the Cleveland Indians 5-1 on Sunday to avoid a four-game sweep.

Smyly (6-8) noticed after two innings that he had held the Indians hitless.

"If any pitcher says they don't notice it, they're lying," he said. "You think about it."

The left-hander ended up allowing only 1 run -- on Gomes' seventh-inning home run -- walked 2 and struck out 6.

"They didn't see a lot of the same pitches back to back," Tigers Manager Brad Ausmus said.

Joba Chamberlain walked two in the eighth, and Joe Nathan pitched a perfect ninth in a non-save situation.

The American League Central-leading Tigers (54-41) stopped a four-game losing streak and increased their lead over Cleveland to 5 1/2 games.

"It's huge to come and get the win to end that little streak, but that's baseball," Smyly said. "You're going to go on a lot of hot streaks, you're going to go on some cold streaks, and you just try to weather the storm."

Josh Tomlin (5-7) allowed 4 runs, 6 hits and 1 walk over 4 1/3 innings.

Cleveland (50-48) had reached a season-high three games over .500 by winning four in a row.

"It was a great series for us," Tomlin said. "Took three games from them, but I came up short."

Detroit gave Smyly some support offensively, scoring two runs in the first and two more on a home run by Torii Hunter (Pine Bluff) deep into the left-field seats in fourth. Austin Jackson led off the first with a double and scored on Ian Kinsler's single. Kinsler came home on Victor Martinez's sacrifice fly.

Indians relievers C.C. Lee and Kyle Crockett stranded a total of five runners by combining to strike out the last two batters in the fifth and the sixth.

Cleveland Manager Terry Francona was pleased with his pitcher's performances against Miguel Cabrera, who went 0 for 4, and Victor Martinez, who was 3 of 15 over the four-game series.

"Those guys in the middle are pretty special," Francona said. "I thought we did a good job against them."

Nick Castellanos hit an RBI double for a four-run lead in the eighth inning to take some pressure off Nathan, who was greeted by the fans with a mix of cheers and boos after giving up a game-losing hit in Saturday night's loss.

"I don't think it hurt that he got back out there," Ausmus said.

BLUE JAYS 9, RANGERS 6 Melky Cabrera hit a tie-breaking home run in the seventh inning as host Toronto beat slumping Texas. Cabrera drove in three runs and finished 3 for 5, his 13th multi-hit effort in the past 28 games, as the Blue Jays won their first series since sweeping a two-game set against Milwaukee on July 1-2.

RED SOX 6, ROYALS 0 Jon Lester allowed no earned runs for the third time in four starts as host Boston completed a three-game sweep of Kansas City. In 8 innings, the All-Star left-hander struck out 8 and gave up 2 walks and 4 hits.

ASTROS 11, WHITE SOX 7 Matt Dominguez hit a two-run home run and a tie-breaking RBI double as visiting Houston tied its season high with 17 hits in a victory over the Chicago White Sox that prevented a three-game sweep.

RAYS 5, TWINS 3 James Loney had two hits and two RBI and Chris Archer won consecutive decisions for the first time this season as visiting Tampa Bay topped Minnesota for its fifth consecutive victory. Archer (6-5) pitched 6 1/3 innings, giving up 1 earned run on 6 hits.

ANGELS 6, MARINERS 5 Grant Green hit a bases-loaded single off Fernando Rodney with two outs in the ninth inning after Albert Pujols tied it with an RBI double, and the Los Angeles Angels pulled out a victory over Seattle. Rodney (1-4) entered the ninth attempting to complete a five-out save and record the 200th of his career, but the Angels rallied for their major league-leading 30th come-from-behind victory.

ATHLETICS 10, ORIOLES 2 Sonny Gray struck out eight to win his fifth consecutive decision as host Oakland pounded Baltimore. Gray (11-3) gave up 2 runs, 1 earned, 2 hits and 2 walks in 6 2/3 innings.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

PADRES 2, METS 1 Odrisamer Despaigne came within four outs of the first no-hitter in San Diego's 46-year major-league history as the host Padres beat the New York Mets on Seth Smith's run-scoring infield single in the ninth. Making his fifth major-league start, Despaigne didn't allow a hit until Daniel Murphy doubled to left-center with two outs in the eighth.

MARLINS 3, GIANTS 2 National League hits leader Casey McGehee hit a home run for the second time this season, and host Miami took the lead for good on a wild pitch by Tim Lincecum in the seventh inning to beat San Francisco.

PIRATES 5, ROCKIES 3 Andrew McCutchen hit a tie-breaking single in the seventh inning, Neil Walker followed with a home run, and host Pittsburgh overcame a three-run deficit to beat Colorado for a three-game sweep.

NATIONALS 5, BREWERS 4 Jayson Werth hit a game-winning RBI double in the bottom of the ninth after the Brewers tied it in the top of the inning as host Washington edged Milwaukee.

BRAVES 8, PHILLIES 2 Tommy La Stella drove in three runs and Chris Johnson hit a two-run home run to back Alex Wood and help host Atlanta rout Philadelphia. The Braves have won of 5 of 7 and remained second in the NL East, one percentage point behind Washington.

DIAMONDBACKS 3, CUBS 1 Josh Collmenter threw seven sharp innings, host Arizona scored on an unusual play in the sixth inning and then completed a three-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs. Arizona's go-ahead run scored from third base when the first baseman Rizzo caught a pop foul while tumbling into the camera well. By rule, runners are awarded a base when a defensive player carries the ball out of play.

INTERLEAGUE

YANKEES 3, REDS 2 Jacoby Ellsbury picked up four hits and scored the winning run in the ninth inning on Brian McCann's pop-fly single that dropped near three Cincinnati Reds in shallow right field, giving the host New York Yankees a 3-2 victory.

Sports on 07/21/2014

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