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LAA@DET: Scherzer fans nine en route to ninth win

For the Tigers, there's just something about Cleveland that they can't seem to overcome. Despite being arguably the hottest team in baseball with a 13-3 record in their last 16 games, and despite facing struggling right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez, they lost, 3-2, in Tuesday night's three-game series opener at Progressive Field.

The loss dropped Detroit to 1-6 vs. the Indians this year.

However, the one victory came against sinkerballer Derek Lowe, who takes the mound opposite Max Scherzer. Lowe allowed seven runs on nine hits through five innings back on June 7.

"If you're going to pitch bad, you better learn from it," Lowe said after the game.

Lowe hasn't necessarily learned from the outing as he's pitched poorly in his past 10 starts. He is 2-6 with a 8.31 ERA since May 26. And he's facing a Tigers lineup that has scored the most runs in July (102).

Scherzer, on the other hand, has been excellent since that same date. Seven of his past nine outings have gone for quality starts, and his latest was a masterpiece vs. the Angels.

The right-hander limited the powerful Los Angeles lineup to one run and three hits in seven innings of work. He also struck out nine as he moved to third in the American League with 134 K's.

"He's got unbelievable stuff," catcher Alex Avila said after the game. "He's shown this year he's one of the best in the game, that's for sure."

Tigers: Infante, Sanchez arrive in Cleveland
• Omar Infante, who was acquired in a trade Monday with the Marlins along with Anibal Sanchez, debuted for Detroit on Tuesday batting ninth. He owns a career .327 average vs. Cleveland and went 1-for-4 in his debut.

Infante has the third most at-bats on the team against Lowe. He is 4-for-17 (.235) with a double and a triple.

"I'm back at home," said Infante, who spent 2002-07 in Detroit before heading to Atlanta and then Miami. "I have a lot of friends here. I'm really happy."

The right-hander Sanchez (5-7, 3.94 ERA) likely debuts Saturday in Toronto. He has spent all seven years of his career in the National League with Miami.

"It's really good. It's an opportunity for me to get to the playoffs," said Sanchez of the trade. "It would be my first playoff appearance. I just want to do my job for this team."

Indians: Lillibridge acquired in trade with Red Sox
• Cleveland made a minor deal Tuesday with the Red Sox to acquire outfielder Brent Lillibridge.

"Versatility, man," said manager Manny Acta of Lillibridge's best asset. "He's a guy we've seen in our division the last couple of years. He can play the outfield. He can play the infield. He can run. It's a guy that we'll welcome here."

Lillibridge was first traded from the White Sox to Boston in a deal involving Kevin Youkilis. He was designated for assignment when Carl Crawford was reinstated from the disabled list, and now he joins the Indians, who sent Minor League right-hander Jose De La Torre to Boston in return.

• Roberto Hernandez, formerly known as Fausto Carmona, will pitch for the organization for the first time in 10 months Thursday. The club announced he will throw four or five innings for Class A Lake County.

Worth noting
• Cleveland is three games back and in third place in the AL Central behind the Tigers and White Sox. The Indians have been in third for 10 straight days after spending 56 straight days in either first or second.

• Acta, his ImpACTA Kids Foundation and Indians Charities announced Monday that the second annual "Manny Acta's Celebrity Bowling Fundraiser" will be held from 5-9 p.m. ET on Aug. 23 at Corner Alley on East 4th Street in Downtown Cleveland.

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