Tigers blank Indians

Chris Shelton delivers his 11th home run of the season, his first since April 28. After a little slump the past few weeks, he has regained his stroke.

CLEVELAND - Jeremy Bonderman wouldn't choose Cleveland as his favorite major-league road trip.

Going into the Tigers' game last night against the Indians, Bonderman was 3-4 with a 6.15 ERA at Jacobs Field. Lifetime against the Indians, it's worse, with a 4-8 record and a 6.81 ERA.

But the right-hander is making the move to change his track record in Ohio.

Bonderman allowed no runs over eight innings to lead the Tigers to their second consecutive victory over the Indians, 3-0. Bonderman was touched for just three hits and had eight strikeouts. He improved to 4-2, getting his third straight win.

When Bonderman faced the Indians last month, he lasted just 32/3 innings, giving up seven runs on eight hits. Last August was worse, when he allowed nine runs in just 31/3 innings against the Tribe.

When Bonderman and Indians starter C.C. Sabathia faced off last July, though, Bonderman was the better of the two, giving up two runs on five hits over eight innings.

The Tigers improved their record to 23-13, while the Indians fell to 17-20.

Detroit is 7 1/2 games ahead of Cleveland for second place in the American League Central division.

Detroit first baseman Chris Shelton's second-inning home run to left was all the Tigers needed. In front of 24,051 fans on the rainy night, it was Shelton's 11th home run of the season, his first since April 28. After a slump the past few weeks, he seems to have broken out of it, getting two hits each of the past two nights.

Bonderman didn't give up a hit until the fifth inning, a double to Todd Hollandsworth. In the eighth, after Bonderman walked the leadoff batter,

Aaron Boone, he struck out the next two Indians batters and got Jhonny Peralta on a slow roller to end the inning.

Two infield errors by the Indians in the sixth led to the second Tigers run. Boone flubbed Omar Infante's hit at third base to lead off the inning, and Jhonny Peralta's throw to get Placido Polanco pulled Ben Broussard off the bag at first. Magglio Ordonez's infield single with two outs scored Infante.

Detroit also scored in the eighth inning when Ivan Rodriguez drove in Ramon Santiago with a double to left. The Indians, who lead the majors with 223 runs scored, left eight runners on base.

Sabathia (2-1) had 10 strikeouts over eight innings, giving up just two earned runs. Tigers closer Todd Jones recorded his ninth save.

Contact Maureen Fulton at:

mfulton@theblade.com

or 419-724-6160.