George Valera hit a two-run homer in the third inning and Jose Ramirez doubled home a pair in the seventh as the Cleveland Guardians beat the visiting Detroit Tigers 5-1 on Wednesday night, seizing sole possession of first place in the American League Central Division.
Steven Kwan added an RBI single and Brayan Rocchio scored twice for the Guardians (86-72), who lead the free-falling Tigers (85-73) by one game in the division with four to play. Detroit has dropped eight straight — five against Cleveland — and 11 of its last 12.
Tanner Bibee (12-11) worked six innings, allowing one run on five hits in beating the Tigers for the second time in seven days. The right-hander struck out five with two walks and is 3-0 with a 1.30 ERA in four starts in September.
Tim Herrin, Hunter Gaddis, Jakob Junis and closer Cade Smith combined to record the final nine outs, giving up one hit. The Guardians, who have won 17 of their last 19 and are 18-5 this month, trailed Detroit by 15 1/2 games on July 8.
Seven-time All-Star third baseman Ramirez doubled off Will Vest, bringing around Daniel Schneemann and Petey Halpin, to give the Guardians a four-run cushion. It was his 725th career extra-base hit, tying Hall of Famer Earl Averill for the franchise record.
Parker Meadows put the Tigers on the board first with a sacrifice fly in the third, plating Dillon Dingler, but Valera gave Cleveland a 2-1 advantage in the bottom half of the frame with his initial hit at home.
Kwan extended the Guardians’ lead to 3-1 in the fifth with a sharp single that chased Detroit starter Jack Flaherty (8-15). The right-hander allowed three runs on five hits in 4 1/3 innings, striking out six and not issuing a walk.
Cleveland clinched the season-ending tiebreaker over Detroit by winning the three-game series opener 5-2 on Tuesday, when Gavin Wiliams outdueled reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal.
