DETROIT (AP) — Jose Ramirez hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the seventh inning after was replaced and the surging swept the slumping with a 3-1 win on Thursday.
Cleveland has won seven straight to close within 3 1/2 games of the AL Central-leading Tigers with a little more than a week left in the regular season. The teams are scheduled for three more games Sept. 23-25.
Detroit has lost six of its last seven games and 15 of 22, turning an 11 1/2-game cushion into a lead that isn’t comfortable.
Returning from an injury scare last week, Skubal gave up one run, seven hits and struck out nine over six innings.
The and pitching Triple Crown winner was replaced by right-hander Troy Melton in the seventh in a 1-all game. Nine pitches later, Ramirez broke the tie with a 368-foot shot to right.
Cleveland’s Jhonkensy Noel hit a game-tying solo homer in the fourth.
Tanner Bibee (11-11) gave up one run and four hits while striking out eight over six innings. Tim Herrin and Kolby Allard followed with two innings of scoreless relief and Hunter Gaddis pitched the ninth for his third save.
Melton (3-2) took the loss after allowing two runs on two hits and a walk in 1 2/3 innings.
Key moment
The Tigers started the second with three hits, including Colt Keith’s RBI double, and they failed to score another run after having two on and no outs. Keith left the game after the inning with back stiffness.
Key stat
The defending AL Central-champion Guardians are a season-high 10 games over .500, bouncing back from having a losing record on Sept. 4 by winning 12 of 13 games.
Up next
Guardians LHP Parker Messick (3-0, 1.84) and Twins RHP Pablo Lopez (5-4, 2.64) are to start Friday night in Minnesota. Detroit opens its final homestand Friday night with Tigers RHP Charlie Morton (9-10, 5.66) and Atlanta RHP Bryce Elder (7-10, 5.56).
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