Tribe can’t sweep Tigers after rally comes up short

CLEVELAND — For the first time in eight years, ESPN’s bright lights returned to Progressive Field on a Sunday night.

The lights proved too bright for the Tigers. But the Tigers proved to be too much for the Indians, who dropped a 5-3 decision to Detroit in the final battle of Major League Baseball’s first half.

The Indians still took two of three from their American League Central rival, but they couldn’t cash in on a Corey Kluber start for the second time in a week. In a duel of AllStar starting pitchers, Michael Fulmer outlasted Kluber, and the Indians’ bullpen couldn’t keep Detroit down.

Cleveland’s best chance came in the bottom of the seventh, when Jose Ramirez yanked a 97-mph fastball into the right-field seats for a two-run homer. The crowd chanted Ramirez’s first name as the third baseman rounded the bases and the Indians trimmed the Tigers’ advantage to two runs.

After Brandon Guyer singled to bring the tying run to the plate, Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler griped to the umpire crew about a bright light in the bathroom of a mid-level suite behind home plate. The game was paused for a few minutes as the umpires and stadium personnel worked to have the light turned off.

When play resumed, Carlos Santana slapped a single to right field. The Indians couldn’t capitalize, though. Tigers reliever Shane Greene retired Yan Gomes, Abraham Almonte and Bradley Zimmer to preserve Detroit’s lead.

The Indians loaded the bases in the eighth on a trio of walks, but Santana bounced out to third to end the threat.

The Tigers had pulled in front with a three-run sixth. Nick Goody faced four batters and three of them reached. He turned the game over to Dan Otero, who entered in an undesirable spot, with the bases loaded and one out. Alex Presley tagged him for a two-run double, and Jose Iglesias brought another run home with a towering chopper to first for an infield single.

Kluber departed after five innings, having tossed 101 pitches. He only allowed one run on three hits, but he walked three, his most in a start since April 27.

Kluber’s string of five consecutive outings with at least 10 strikeouts came to an end, as he tallied eight.