Tigers 7, Indians 2: J.D. Martinez homered, tripled and tied a career high with four RBIs while David Price struck out seven over 7 2/3 strong innings as host Detroit took the opener of its three-game series against American League Central rival Cleveland.

Price (14-11) improved to 3-3 with a 3.70 ERA in eight starts since being acquired from Tampa Bay at the trade deadline, allowing a run and eight hits. Ian Kinsler, Victor Martinez and Alex Avila drove in a run apiece for the Tigers, who moved one-half game ahead of Kansas City for first place in the AL Central while bumping the Indians 4 1/2 games off the pace in the division and four back of both the Royals and Seattle for the second wild card.

Ryan Raburn went deep in the second inning and Lonnie Chisenhall doubled home a run in the ninth to account for the only offense for Cleveland, which matched its loss total from last September as it went 21-6 in the month to secure a wild-card berth. Carlos Carrasco (7-5) posted a 4-0 record with a 0.70 ERA over his previous six outings but was reached for four runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 frames in this contest.

After Price needed only four pitches to get the first two outs of the second, Detroit fell behind when Raburn jumped on a first-pitch fastball and sent it over the fence in left-center field. The 2012 AL Cy Young Award winner also allowed Chisenhall and Mike Aviles to move into scoring position after the solo blast before getting Michael Bourn to ground out to end the threat.

Nick Castellanos led off the third with a single and scored the tying run on Kinsler’s two-out double that Raburn misplayed in right field before J.D. Martinez hammered an 0-1 fastball with one on in the fourth to give Detroit its first lead. Price retired 11 of the final 13 batters he faced after the Tigers pulled ahead, and his offense gave him some insurance in the seventh as J.D. Martinez hit a two-run triple off reliever C.C. Lee to highlight a four-run frame.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Price, who improved to 7-1 with a 2.64 ERA in nine career starts against the Indians, has surrendered a league-high nine home runs on the first pitch of an at-bat. … Cleveland has been outscored 39-17 while dropping five of its last six meetings with the Tigers. … Victor Martinez, who finished 2-for-4, is batting .391 over his last 30 contests despite going hitless in his previous two games.