Byrd gets 100th win as Indians beat Tigers for 1,000th time

DETROIT (AP) -- It took Paul Byrd 13 years to get to 100 wins -- and the wait made the milestone feel even better.

Byrd pitched seven sharp innings and Casey Blake had a two-run double in Cleveland's three-run fourth, leading the Indians to a 4-2 victory over the slumping Detroit Tigers on Friday night.

"This was my fourth try at 100, so it was on my mind all night," said Byrd, who improved to 9-2 in his career against Detroit. "It is a very big deal to me, because I love baseball, and I'm happy to have won so many games."

Byrd (3-5) gave up two runs and four hits, struck out two and walked none.

"I like pitching in the big parks, because I feel like I can really pitch my game," he said. "I was able to stay ahead of the hitters and eat up some innings."

Ryan Garko hit a solo drive in the eighth for Cleveland, which has split the first eight games of its 11-game road trip. The Indians also picked up their 1,000th win against Detroit.

"This was a good ballgame," Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said. "We stayed focused and we were able to get good at-bats when we needed them."

The Tigers lost their fourth straight and fell a season-worst 12 games under .500. Detroit has scored just 10 runs in the last four games.

"It's a mystery to me why we can't score runs on a consistent basis," manager Jim Leyland said. "Saying that I'm shocked by this might be a little strong, but it is pretty close."

Justin Verlander (2-9) fell to 1-6 in his last eight starts, giving up three runs and five hits over seven innings. He struck out a season-high eight and issued four walks.

"It is tough for me to look at my record right now, so I try not to do it," said Verlander, who has already matched his career high for losses in a season. "I just have to stay focused and try to control what I can control."

Verlander ran into trouble in the fourth. Garko walked with one out and Jhonny Peralta singled for Cleveland's first hit. David Dellucci then walked to load the bases for Blake, who put the Indians ahead 2-0 with a double down the left-field line. Franklin Gutierrez added an RBI single.

"I knew Blake was looking for something soft, so I tried to bounce a curve up there," Verlander said. "I didn't get it down enough, and he got good wood on it."

Brandon Inge went deep in the sixth against Byrd and Jeff Larish hit his first career homer in the seventh to cut it to 3-2, but Garko's homer provided a cushion for the Cleveland bullpen.

"I wasn't trying for a home run -- I just wanted to get a good at-bat," Garko said. "He threw a strike up the middle and I was able to hit it. It is sure funny how one swing can decide a game."

Masa Kobayashi pitched the eighth and Joe Borowski allowed one hit in the ninth for his fifth save in seven tries.

Game notes
The Indians are 1,000-1,022 against Detroit since the teams helped found the American League in 1901. ... Detroit put SS Ramon Santiago (shoulder) and OF Clete Thomas (ankle) on the disabled list and RHP Aquilino Lopez went onto the bereavement list. To replace them, the Tigers activated RHP Denny Bautista from the DL and recalled SS Michael Hollimon and OF Brent Clevlen from Triple-A Toledo. ... Borowski picked up his 50th save as a member of the Indians.