By Mike Brandyberry

You can change the location, or the team, but the story remains the same. The Cleveland Indians continue to receive poor starting pitching, forcing the offense to play from behind and press into another loss.

Tonight, the Justin Masterson gave the Tigers an early lead and Anibal Sanchez was able to stifle the anemic Tribe offense, despite lineup shakeups and personnel changes. The Tribe lost their seventh straight game, this time to Detroit, 10-2.

The Tigers took the early lead in the bottom of the second inning when Brennan Boesch reached on an infield single to lead off the inning. Andy Dirks would fly out to left fielder, Ezequiel Carrera for the first out, but Carrera seemed to laugh and gesture to center fielder Michael Brantley about the sun after the catch. He didn’t flip his shades down and the next hitter, Alex Avila, hit a ball to Carrera he lost in the sun and rolled all the way to the wall for a double, scoring Boesch from first. The mishap by Carrera was not charged as an error, but the miscue gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead.

Carrera tried to redeem himself in the top of the third inning when he led off with a single into the right field corner that was misplayed by Dirks and allowed him scamper to second. After Jason Kipnis struck out, Asdrubal Cabrera grounded to second to move Carrera to third with two out. Shin-Soo Choo drove the run home with a liner to center field to score the run and tie the game at one. It would be the last time the Indians would be in the game.

Detroit would take control of the game in the bottom of the third and never look back. Austin Jackson led off the inning with a walk and Quintin Berry singled to put runners on first and second with no one out. After Miguel Cabrerea flied to center for the first out, Prince Fielder doubled high off the right field wall to score both runners and give the Tigers a 3-1 lead after three innings.

The Tigers would deal the punishing blow to the Tribe in the bottom of the fourth inning, tallying four more runs and burying the game where the Indian offense would never reach it. Ramon Santiago would lead off the inning with a walk and advance to second on a ground out. After the second out was retired, Berry would double to left center field to score Santiago, Cabrera would follow with a single to score Berry and Fielder would hit a two-run homer deep into the right field seats to make the score 7-1 and end Masterson’s night.

Masterson would leave after only four innings of work, allowing 10 hits and seven earned runs, while walking four and striking out four. It is his second straight poor performance, leaving the Indians no chance to win by the time he exits the game. Last Saturday he was pummeled by the Minnesota Twins in the second game of what is now a seven-game losing streak.

Jeremy Accardo would relieve Masterson and work a scoreless fifth inning before Detroit had their way with him in the sixth inning. Cabrera and Fielder started the inning each with singles. After Boesch grounded to first to move runners to scoring position, Dirks and Avila each singled home a run and Santiago hit a sacrifice fly to score their third run of the inning, making it a 10-1 Tigers lead after six innings.

The Indians would finally chase Sanchez from the game in the top of the seventh inning. Jack Hannahan walked to start the inning and Carrera singled to put runners on the corners. The base hit would end Sanchez’s night, but he’d be charged with an earned run when Jason Kipnis grounded out to score Hannahan from third and make the score 10-2, in favor of Detroit.

Sanchez would pitch six innings, allowing eight hit, two runs—only one earned—while walking two and striking out five. The win was the first for Sanchez as a Tiger, who was beaten in his debut outing.

Cody Allen would work two scoreless innings in relief of Accardo and the Indians would go out without a wimper, suffering their seventh straight loss. It is the longest losing streak for the Tribe against AL Central Division foes since 2008.

Saturday the Indians will send Ubaldo Jimenez to the mound to try to snap the streak, while Detroit will hope Doug Fister can make it eight straight losses for Cleveland. Game time is slated for 7:05 pm et from Comerica Park.

Photo: AP Photo/Carlos Osorio