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CWS@DET: Fister escapes bases-loaded jam in fourth

Doug Fister enters his first start of September on Wednesday against the Indians seeking more consistency.

He had an up-and-down August, posting respectable numbers, including a 2-1 record and 3.38 ERA in five starts. He allowed just three earned runs over 23 1/3 innings in his first three starts.

His last two starts have been more of a struggle, however, as he needed 101 pitches to get through five innings against the White Sox on Aug. 31. The start before that, he was blasted for seven runs on eight hits in only 3 2/3 innings by the Orioles.

Walks were the issue in his two most recent starts, as he issued seven in 8 2/3 innings, compared to just three walks in his first three starts of August.

"Normally when I'm executing, I don't walk too many guys," Fister said after walking three batters in the loss against the Orioles. "And today, I obviously walked a few. They made me pay for each one of those. It's a gift that I shouldn't be giving them."

Meanwhile, the Indians' Ubaldo Jimenez comes in looking to rid himself of all memories pertaining to last month. While 2012 has been mostly a down year for the right-hander, his scuffles reached a new level in August, as he went 1-4 with a 7.67 ERA.

Jimenez allowed four runs on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings in Cleveland's 5-3 loss to the Rangers on Aug. 31, finalizing the Tribe's August record at 5-24, and tying the club record for losses in one calendar month set in July 1914.

"It's been really a tough month for all of us," Jimenez said. "Definitely, we can't wait to move on."

Indians: Chisenhall heads to Akron
• Third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall's rehab assignment will be transferred to Double-A Akron, as Triple-A Columbus finished its season on Monday. Chisenhall has been out since June 30 due to a fractured bone in his right forearm.

He was hitting .278 with three home runs and nine RBIs in 24 games for Cleveland before being injured.

"As soon as he's done with the rehab over there in Akron, he's going to be over here playing," Indians manager Manny Acta said.

• Closer Chris Perez earned his 34th save on Tuesday after missing Cleveland's past three games to be with his wife as she gave birth to the couple's second child.

"He's fine," Acta said. "he's had more days off when were going through those losing streaks."

Tigers: Prince gets start at DH
• Tigers manager Jim Leyland started Prince Fielder at designated hitter on Tuesday for only the second time this season. Leyland cited Delmon Young's day off as an opportunity to DH Fielder. Don Kelly started at first base.

Young had been on a 15-for-34 stretch, with four home runs and 12 RBIs, but his 3-for-20 lifetime clip against Cleveland starter Justin Masterson prompted Leyland to sit him.

"I've talked to Prince five times this year about getting him off his feet," Leyland said. "This was set up four days ago. This is not a shock to anybody. Prince knew he was DHing."

• Leyland will likely only use outfielder Avisail Garcia against left-handed pitching despite the outfielder going 3-for-7 with an RBI in his first two Major League starts. He wasn't in Detroit's lineup for the second straight game on Tuesday, and likely won't be again until the Tigers oppose Angels left-hander C.J. Wilson on Saturday.

Worth noting
• Detroit's 42 home wins are tied for the second most in the Majors this season, but the Tigers are just 4-4 against the Indians at Comerica Park this year. Cleveland is 26-41 on the road.

• Tuesday's win clinched Cleveland's first series victory since taking two of three against the Tigers from July 24-26.

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