DETROIT - With Justin Masterson on the mound against a Detroit rookie making his big league debut, this seemed like a good chance for the Cleveland Indians to avoid a sweep. Instead, they lost their seventh game in a row, sliding further behind the Tigers in the AL Central standings. Jose Alvarez pitched six impressive innings in his major league debut, and Don Kelly hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the sixth to help the Tigers to a 4-1 victory over the Indians on Sunday. The three-game sweep gave first-place Detroit a 5 1/2-game lead in the division over Cleveland. "Its a long season. We cant worry about it," said Ryan Raburn, who homered to drive in Clevelands only run. "Were playing as hard as we can. Just not catching any breaks." Alvarez (1-0) was starting because of Anibal Sanchezs shoulder tightness, and he held Cleveland hitless until Raburns fifth-inning homer. The 24-year-old left-hander allowed three hits and a walk and struck out seven. "He pitched a great game," Masterson said. "Especially for his major league debut. ... Kept us off balance." Drew Smyly pitched two innings of relief. Joaquin Benoit finished for his third save. Masterson (8-5) allowed four runs in seven innings. He gave up a walk to Miguel Cabrera and a single to Prince Fielder to start the Detroit sixth. One out later, Kelly lifted a drive over the wall in right field. "I dont even think it was a mistake," Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. "Just trying to change the eye level, got it down and in. Actually, it wasnt a strike and it got in his swing path. ... Give Kelly credit — a tough pitch to hit." The Tigers have built their division lead behind terrific starting pitching. Sanchez has been perhaps their best pitcher so far, but Detroit skipped the right-handers start Sunday because of tightness in the back of his throwing shoulder. Enter Alvarez, whose contract was purchased from Triple-A Toledo before the game. He baffled the Indians during the early innings, allowing only a leadoff walk to Mark Reynolds in the second before Raburn — the former Tiger — tied the game at 1 with his seventh homer of the season. The left-handed hitting Kelly brought a .190 average into the game, but Detroit manager Jim Leyland started him against Masterson, who is tough on righties. The move paid off with Kellys third homer of the year, which gave the Tigers a 4-1 lead. "It was a slider down and in, and I was able to put a good swing on it," Kelly said. "I didnt know right away if I got it or not." Detroits bullpen was a bit taxed — and a man short because the Tigers had to add an extra starter for this game. They were able to wrap up this win with Smyly and Benoit while resting closer Jose Valverde. Detroits Alex Avila opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the second. Masterson allowed six hits. He walked three and struck out four. NOTES: Indians closer Chris Perez (sore right shoulder) is expected to throw off a mound Tuesday. Perez and his wife were charged in a complaint filed Friday with misdemeanour drug possession involving just over one-third of a pound of marijuana, police in Ohio said. Their attorney said they would plead not guilty. ... It began raining in the ninth inning, sending many fans back toward the concourse level while Benoit finished the game. ... Clevelands Nick Swisher singled in the sixth to snap an 0-for-26 slide. ... Cleveland starts a three-game set at Texas on Monday night. Scott Kazmir (3-3) will start for the Indians. Detroit opens a three-game series at Kansas City. Doug Fister (5-3) takes the mound for the Tigers against Jeremy Guthrie (6-3) in the opener. Anaheim Ducks Store ., for the next three years with the signings on Monday of Daryl Townsend and Michael Carter. Sam Steel Jersey . Now, with Game 6 set for Fenway Park and an 8:07 p.m. ET first pitch, the Detroit Tigers face the unenviable task of having to beat the Boston Red Sox twice, on the road, to advance to the World Series. https://www.cheapducks.com/ . -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar will be out for roughly four weeks after tearing his left hamstring. Ryan Miller Jersey . Shot outdoors against the stunning backdrop of Banff, Alta., the networks 30-minute original production airs tonight at 8pm et/5pm pt on TSN2. The four All-Star teams will play for $100,000 in prize money during TSNs annual skins game, airing live this weekend on TSN from The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre. Corey Perry Jersey .C. -- Calgarys Kevin Koe did it the hard way again. MINNEAPOLIS -- Akeem Springs came off the bench to score 19 points and Nate Mason added 18 for Minnesota, which came from behind in the second half and escaped with a 74-68 victory against NJIT on Tuesday night.Springs and Mason each hit four 3-pointers as Minnesota was 9 of 21 from beyond the arc. Freshman Amir Coffey added 13 points and eight rebounds for the Gophers (8-1), who have equaled their win total from last season.A back-and-forth affair saw 13 lead changes, but NJIT never led by more than three points before Minnesota used a 7-0 run to take a 65-61 lead.This is a scary time of year in the sense of, you know, you get a lot of home games, obviously the names are not as big as some of the other big ones, so youve got to get your guys to understand you can lose to anybody, Gophers coach Richard Pitino said. You see it every single night, and you try to tell your guys over and over again, and sometimes just feeling it is a nice wake up call.Rob Ukawuba led the Highlanders (5-5) with 18 points. NJIT committed just seven turnovers but shot 34.2 percent from the field and was 8 of 32 from 3.Were a program thats on the rise and were past moral victories, to be honest with you, Highlanders coach Brian Kennedy said. This is a game that hurts a lot to lose because we felt if we played the way we know were capable of playing, it was going to be a good game.BIG PICTURENJIT: The Highlanders continued to show they can hang with the Big Ten. Two years ago on the same day, NJIT went on the road and beat No. 17 Michigan. Earlier this season, the Highlanders went to Purdue and had the game within single digits in the final minutes before losing 79-68. NJIT averaged 61.1 per gaame and forced 16.dddddddddddd44 turnovers per game heading into Tuesday. Against Minnesota, the Highlanders shot 73 times and forced 14 turnovers.Minnesota: Pitino tried to beef up the nonconference portion of the schedule. After posting wins against St. Johns, Arkansas and on the road at Vanderbilt, the Gophers stumbled against the Highlanders, who entered the game 267th in the nation in the Ratings Percentage Index.KEY MATCHUPNJIT guard Damon Lynn entered the game as the active scoring leader in Division with 1,927 points. He had scored at least 20 in six of the teams first nine games.Mason took the brunt of the defensive responsibility and helped hold Lynn to 12 points on 5-of-24 shooting.Never really let him get an open look the whole night, Kennedy said of Mason. Damons had a great, great career for us. I wouldnt trade that kid for anybody in the country. He just had an off night shooting tonight.HE SAID ITI think tomorrows really going to help the team; seeing how we respond, seeing if were hungry, Springs said. We got hit in the mouth and its good for us. I think tomorrow is whats really going to see if we respond the way we should respond. If we come in hungry, and like coach says, if we work.UP NEXTNJIT: A road-heavy month continues for the Highlanders, who play at Kent State on Dec. 10. NJIT has just one home game in the month of December.Minnesota: Tuesdays game was the start of five straight nonconference games at home before the Gophers open the Big Ten at home against Michigan State. Minnesota hosts Georgia Southern on Dec. 9. ' ' '