The Tigers had been planning to start Justin Verlander in Cleveland on Wednesday, but his bad back scrapped that plan. They went instead to Buck Farmer, who planted nothing but disaster.
Farmer was fine for two innings before the Indians bats awoke. He allowed an RBI single to Jason Kipnis and two-run double to Carlos Santana in the third, solo home run to Francisco Lindor in the fifth and single in the sixth before his removal. He finished having yielded five runs on eight hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings. He did record seven strikeouts.
The right-hander, who was called up Tuesday to make the start, was promptly dispatched back to Triple-A Toledo after the game.