Cleveland 5, Detroit 3

Indians 5, Tigers 3: Carlos Santana and Travis Hafner hit back-to-back homers in a four-run seventh inning as Cleveland beat Justin Verlander to take the rubber game of its three-game series with Detroit.

Santana and Hafner both turned on high fastballs from Verlander, depositing them over the fence in right-center. Five batters later, Asdrubal Cabrera ripped a two-out RBI single, and Cleveland scored again on Jason Kipnis’ infield hit, his second RBI of the game.

Detroit lost for just the fourth time in 18 games and fell a half-game behind the idle Chicago White Sox in the AL Central. The Indians moved over .500 (50-49) while scoring more than three runs for the first time in eight games.

Verlander (11-6) lost for the first time in four starts, allowing five runs on nine hits in seven innings. Joe Smith (7-2) won in relief, and Chris Perez earned his 29th save in 31 chances despite giving up a hit and a walk in the ninth.

Indians starter Zach McAllister yielded three runs (two earned) on nine hits in 6 1/3 innings, striking out seven and walking two.

Austin Jackson lined an RBI single to put Detroit ahead 2-1 in the fourth. Delmon Young’s 11th homer, which barely cleared the fence in right, made it 3-1 in the sixth.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The game started 26 minutes late due to rain. … The Tigers fell to 2-7 against Cleveland this season. … Prince Fielder’s run-scoring single in the first gave him 70 RBIs on the campaign. … Verlander has given up 14 homers this year. ... Hafner homered for the second straight game, giving him 10 for the season.

• Cleveland will play their next game on the road against Minnesota. The Indians have a W/L % of .449 after a win and .560 after a loss.
• Detroit will play their next game on the road against Toronto. The Tigers have a W/L % of .453 after a win and .630 after a loss.