CLEVELAND — Kerry Carpenter hit a three-run homer and Javier Báez had a solo shot as the Detroit Tigers handed Cleveland rookie Tanner Bibee his first loss in more than two months with a 4-3 victory over the Guardians on Saturday night.
Carpenter connected in the first inning off Bibee (9-3), who had won his previous seven decisions and was unbeaten since June 13. Báez homered in the seventh off Nick Sandlin to put the Tigers ahead 4-2.
Matt Manning (5-4) held the Guardians to one run and five hits in six innings. The right-hander came in 0-2 with a 17.61 ERA in two previous outings at Progressive Field.
Cleveland had its chances.
Detroit’s Alex Lange worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh, Andrew Vasquez escaped a mess in the eighth and Jason Foley retired the Guardians’ 1-2-3 hitters in the ninth for his seventh save.
The Tigers improved to 6-3 against the Guardians, who are trying to catch first-place Minnesota in the AL Central. Detroit hasn’t won a season series over Cleveland since 2015.
Kole Calhoun homered and rookie Bo Naylor had three hits for the Guardians, who closed within 4-3 in the seventh on Steven Kwan’s RBI single.
Cleveland loaded the bases with two outs before Lange got Oscar Gonzalez to ground out to third, ending the threat.
The Guardians got the tying run to third with one in the eighth, but Vasquez got Naylor to pop up and struck out Myles Straw.
Cleveland also blew a great scoring chance in the fifth, when the Tigers committed two errors on one play.
With a runner at first, Naylor doubled to deep center. Gabriel Arias was initially held at third before hustling home when Tigers center fielder Riley Greene’s relay throw was off line to shortstop Báez.
Báez’s throw to the plate wasn’t perfect, but catcher Jake Rogers didn’t handle it cleanly as Arias scored and Naylor took third. However, Manning buckled down and stranded the tying run by getting three straight infield groundouts.
Bibee came in unbeaten in his previous nine starts since June 24, but the right-hander was in early trouble against the Tigers.
He gave up a single and labored through the first, when he couldn’t put away Spencer Torkelson, who drew a two-out walk following a 10-pitch at-bat.
Carpenter followed with his 17th homer, a shot that barely cleared the wall in right to make it 3-0.
MANNY OF THE PEOPLE
Wildly popular during his playing days, Manny Ramírez was inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame before the game.
Ramírez spent eight seasons with Cleveland before signing in Boston. Ramírez strolled in from the bullpen after being introduced and thanked Guardians fans for their unwavering support.
“With all my mistakes, you guys have stayed with me,” he told the crowd.
Ramírez was twice suspended for PEDs, and those infractions have kept him from being voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
TOUGH DECISION
A Tigers fan as a kid, Eric Haase’s dream of playing for his favorite team is over.
Detroit designated the slumping veteran catcher for assignment. Haase was doing fine defensively, but his .129 average against left-handers forced the club to make a move that came with some emotion.
Free agent Carson Kelly, recently released by Arizona, was signed.
“It is a reality our team has to understand: Changes come when changes are needed,” manager AJ Hinch said. “You can still be upset, frustrated and sad for your teammate. But these things happen when the organization feels they’re necessary.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Guardians: RHP Cal Quantrill (shoulder inflammation) is scheduled to throw 80 pitches in a start on Sunday for Triple-A Columbus at Syracuse. This will be Quantrill’s third rehab start, and could lead to him being activated soon.
UP NEXT
Guardians rookie LHP Logan Allen (6-5, 3.33 ERA) starts the series finale against Tigers LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (8-6. 3.13).
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