Verlander struggles and suffers 100th Career Loss

Starting pitcher Justin Verlander #35 of the Detroit Tigers pitches during the first inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on May 3, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio.

(May 3, 2016 - Source: Jason Miller/Getty Images North America)

SP Justin Verlander records the 100th loss of his career as the Cleveland Indians beat the Detroit Tigers 7-3 to open their three-game series.

The ace surrendered 8 hits, 3 walks and 7 earned runs in 5 innings while striking out 2. He is now 2-3 on the season with a 6.49 ERA and 1.44 WHIP.

It looked like the Tigers scored the first run of the game when RF J.D. Martinez came home in the first inning but the umpires reviewed the play and overturned the call. C Yan Gomes applied the tag just in time for the third out.

The Indians fared much better in the bottom half of the inning. With one out 2B Jason Kipnis walked and advanced to second base on a single by SS Francisco Lindor. After another out 1B Mike Napoli stepped to the plate and doubled to deep center to drive in two runs.

Yan Gomes followed with a single to bring Mike Napoli home for a 3-0 lead. Justin Verlander needed 38 pitches to get out of the inning.

Cleveland added another run in the third inning. Francisco Lindor hit a one-out double and LF Michael Brantley batted him in for the fourth run.

The Tigers halved the lead in the fifth inning. CF Anthony Gose singled to lead the inning off and 2B Ian Kinsler hit a two-run homer for Detroit. It was Kinsler’s 5th long ball of the season.

In the bottom of the fifth Cleveland showed that they can do better. DH Carlos Santana drew a leadoff walk and moved to second base on a single from Jason Kipnis. Francisco Lindor followed and hit a three-run homer with no outs to give the Indians a 7-2 lead.

1B Miguel Cabrera scored Detroit’s third and final run in the seventh inning on an RBI-single from 3B Nick Castellanos.

Cleveland’s manager Terry Francona wanted the win so badly and used CL Cody Allen in a non-save situation. The closer did not let him down and struck out all three batters he faced to end the game.

SP Josh Tomlin pitched 6 innings, allowing 9 hits and 2 earned runs while striking out 5, and was credited with his fourth win of the season. He posts a 3.13 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. Josh Tomlin is 11-0 when he pitches after a Cleveland loss.

Francisco Lindor hit 3-for-4 with 3 runs, 1 HR and 3 RBI. He is batting .315 this season and has 15 runs, 2 HR and 12 RBI.