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Indians extend MLB-best win streak to 9 games

Leon Halip / Getty Images Sport / Getty

DETROIT - Terry Francona did something Sunday at Comerica Park that he rarely gets to do. He relaxed while sitting in the visiting manager's office.

The Cleveland Indians had just beaten the Tigers 9-3, winning their ninth straight game - the longest in the majors this season - and improving to 9-0 against Detroit this year.

''I've spent a lot of long nights in this office, trying to figure how to regroup after getting beat up yet again by that team,'' Francona said after his club roughed up Justin Verlander for eight runs - including six during a four-homer fifth inning. ''I can't entirely explain this, but it feels good.''

Watch: Indians torch Verlander for 4 HRs in 5th inning

Cleveland overcame three homers by former teammates, including two by Victor Martinez, to sweep Detroit for the third time this year. The Indians have outscored the Tigers 60-20 in nine games.

The Tigers kept their clubhouse closed for an unusually long time after the game, but manager Brad Ausmus declined to say whether he held a team meeting. Detroit trails first-place Cleveland by seven games in the AL Central.

''They just have our number right now,'' Ausmus said. ''There's no other way to explain it.''

Only once before had Verlander allowed four homers in a start - also against the Indians in 2007. According to the Elias Sports Bureau and Fox Sports Detroit, he became the first pitcher in franchise history to give up four in one inning.

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