¤ milky moon ¤

CLEVELAND -- Pitching to J.D. Martinez didnt work out very well for the Cleveland Indians on Friday night. Facing Victor Martinez wasnt a very good idea either. J.D. Martinez hit a three-run homer, Victor Martinez added a two-run shot and the Detroit Tigers held on for a 6-4 victory. Rick Porcello (9-4) pitched six scoreless innings for the Tigers and Joe Nathan worked the ninth for his 15th save. But it was a big Martinez night for Detroit. Victor Martinez homered off Corey Kluber (6-5) in the fourth inning. J.D. Martinezs home run, following an intentional walk to Victor Martinez, came in the eighth off John Axford. J.D. Martinez was 3 for 4, extending his hitting streak to 10 games during which hes batting .447 (17 for 38) with four homers and raised his average to .317. "You see occasionally players get on a hot streak like this and I hope hes hot tomorrow," Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said. Victor Martinez, providing a big threat behind Miguel Cabrera, has 18 home runs and 47 RBIs with a .328 average. "When the season started I said the only guy who can protect Miguel is Miguel, but Im going to say now the other person who can protect Miguel would be Victor," Ausmus said. "So theres at least two." Indians manager Terry Francona agreed. "Hes the perfect guy behind Miggy," Francona said. "Miggys Miggy. He has that reputation and its well deserved, but Victor can hit all pitching. He can hit for power. He puts the bat on the ball when need be from both sides of the plate." Victor Martinez, who played for the Indians from 2002-09, is hitting .366 (70 for 191) with eight homers and 44 RBIs in 52 career games against his former team. Detroits designated hitter also continued his mastery over Kluber. Hes batting .471 (8 for 17) with two homers lifetime against the right-hander. "I dont think hes biased," Francona said. "Hes good against everybody." Victor Martinez belted Klubers first pitch deep into the seats in right field. The Indians walked him intentionally in the eighth, but J.D. Martinez ruined that strategy with his seventh home run. The Tigers took a 5-0 lead into the bottom of the eighth, but Asdrubal Cabrera hit a three-run homer and Carlos Santana had a solo shot off Ian Krol. Joba Chamberlain retired the final hitter of the inning and then Nathan struck out Michael Bourn with a runner on to end the game. "My stress level got a little bit up in the eighth," Ausmus said. The Tigers returned to Progressive Field for the first time since they were swept in a three-game series last month. Detroit was 27-12 and held a seven-game lead in the AL Central, but suffered two walk-off losses, including a balk that scored the winning run in the 13th inning in the series finale. The sweep began a 10-20 tailspin which dropped the Tigers out of first place for the first time his season. Porcello, who is 9-3 lifetime against Cleveland, won for the first time since May 29 and for the second time in his last six starts. He was 7-1 with a 2.91 ERA in his first eight starts, but went 1-3 with a 6.00 ERA in the next five. Porcello allowed six hits, struck out three and walked one. "I had a good fastball," Porcello said. "My changeup was a big pitch. The way the guys played defence was fantastic too." Indians left fielder Michael Brantley singled as a pinch-hitter with two outs in the ninth, his first appearance since sustaining a concussion Monday. Porcello is 4-0 with a 1.47 ERA in five starts against Cleveland since 2013. Kluber hasnt won since May 30 after recording victories in four straight decisions. He gave up eight hits, struck out six and walked one. Ian Kinsler had an RBI double in the ninth. Tigers right fielder Torii Hunter missed his fourth straight game with a strained right hamstring. The crowd of 33,545 was the second-largest at Progressive Field this season, topped only by the home opener. NOTES: The Indians will induct Omar Vizquel into their Hall of Fame before Saturday nights game. He played for Cleveland from 1994-2004, won 11 Gold Gloves as a shortstop and finished his career with 2,877 hits. "Im very honoured," said Vizquel, the first base and infield coach for the Tigers. "Playing here was the highlight of my career."... Tigers C Alex Avila strongly disputed an Internet report that he is tipping pitches by tapping his glove. "Ive heard some crazy things, but that takes the cake," he said. "I think people are just searching for something."... The Indians recalled RHP Vinnie Pestano from Triple-A Columbus and optioned RHP Zach McAllister there. ... Tigers RHP Justin Verlander (6-7) takes on RHP Trevor Bauer (2-3) on Saturday. Verlander is 2-5 with a 7.83 ERA in his last seven starts. .Jeff Green, playing in his second preseason game after missing the first four because of a calf strain, had 18 points. The Celtics (3-3) shot 47.2 per cent from the floor and made 15 of 37 3-point attempts. . The Brazilian-born strikers brace drew him level with Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo as the leagues leading scorers with 17 goals apiece through 16 rounds. "The important thing is to help the team win, not the goals," Diego Costa said. After a first half dominated by defence, Atletico pressed Valencia into its area and Diego Costa did the rest. http://www.thedallasstarshockey.com/mik ... ey-jersey/. His head snapped back from the impact and hit the floor. The All-Star power forward was all right afterward, a relief for the Minnesota Timberwolves. . The rookie is rewarding their faith with a stellar first season. MacKinnon had a goal and two assists, Jamie McGinn had two goals and an assist, and Colorado beat the Buffalo Sabres 7-1 on Saturday. . In the Brewers six games this season, no starter has allowed more than three runs. "We see the guy in front of us do a great job and we want to do even better," Gallardo said after the Brewers beat the Red Sox 4-0 on Sunday, his second straight scoreless start. NEWARK, N.J. -- The Montreal Canadiens added some muscle by selecting right-winger Mike McCarron with their first choice in the NHL draft. McCarron is listed at six-foot-five, 228 pounds and would provide the Habs with much-needed size up front. The Michigan native, selected 25th overall, has been compared to Milan Lucic, the Boston Bruins forward who has given the Habs headaches in recent years. McCarron is thought to be a potential third-liner with some scoring upside. He played with the U.S. National Team Development Program, with whom he scored 11 goals and had 18 assists in 49 games last season. His Canadian Hockey League rights belong to the London Knights, but its possible McCarron could go the college route. He signed a letter of intent with the Western Micchigan Broncos, who are headed by former NHL coach Andy Murray.dddddddddddd. The Canadiens had three more picks in the second round. With their 34th overall choice, the Habs picked centre Jacob de la Rose. He is listed at 6-2, 176 pounds and had six goals and six assists in 38 games for Leksand in the Swedish Division 2 league. Two picks later, the Canadiens selected the first goalie of the draft, Zachary Fucale of the Halifax Mooseheads. The Quebec native posted a 2.35 goals against average in 55 games last year as he guided the Mooseheads to the Memorial Cup. With the 55th overall pick, the team grabbed Artturi Lehkonen, who played last year in the Finnish Elite League. The five-foot-nine, 163 pound left-winger had 14 goals and 16 assists in 45 games. ' ' '