Smoke signals

• The Tribe defeated Verlander on Saturday, continuing this season's trend of beating up on past Cy Young Award winners. Former Cy Young recipients R.A. Dickey, David Price, Jake Peavy, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Bartolo Colon and Verlander have combined to go 1-6 with an 8.10 ERA against the Indians this season. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Cleveland is the first team in baseball history to defeat six past Cy Young winners before June 1.

• Francona kept Reynolds and center fielder Michael Bourn out of the starting lineup for Sunday's game in Detroit. Reynolds had not missed a game since April 6, and Bourn recently returned from an extended stay on the disabled list. With a doubleheader against the Yankees on Monday, Francona felt it was a good time to rest both players.

But both ending up playing key roles in the win. Bourn walked as a pinch-hitter to lead off the ninth, stole second and scored the tying run, and then Reynolds drove in the go-ahead run on a single in the 10th.

• Francona indicated that right-handers Brett Myers and Vinnie Pestano (both dealing with right elbow issues) and catcher Lou Marson (right shoulder) all "came through fine" in their throwing sessions this weekend. The manager noted that Pestano is scheduled to throw off a mound on Monday and Myers is slated to do the same during the team's upcoming series in Philadelphia.

• With their 4-3 win over Detroit on Sunday, the Indians improved to 9-3 in one-run games this season, upping the Tribe's record to 33-15 in one-run contests over the past two years.