Smoke signals

• The Indians optioned Aguilar to Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday, one day after the rookie collected his first hit and RBI in Cleveland's 5-4, 10-inning win over the Tigers. Aguilar ended the evening 1-for-3 with an RBI single and run-scoring sacrifice fly. Aguilar went 1-for-7 in his four-game stint with Cleveland.

"I was thrilled for Aggy that he pitched in yesterday and helped us win the game," Francona said on Tuesday. "I thought he was really pressing. We sometimes forget, because we're in the grind of trying to win games and going about our business, you forget this kid just [came up]. You put them in the lineup and expect them to play. He hadn't got a hit and he was really feeling it.

"When he got that infield hit [in the fifth inning], you could just see him relax. Then he went up and got that last pitch for the sac fly and he was really feeling good about himself. ... He's going back knowing that this is where he wants to be, but he just needs to go play."

• Prior to Tuesday's game, Francona had the chance to catch up with former Tigers manager Jim Leyland, who is an assistant to Detroit general manager Dave Dombrowski. Francona said he has admired and respected Leyland from across the diamond since their days in the Minor Leagues.

"He's so fun," Francona said. "I said, 'Man, you look great.' And he was just telling me how much he's enjoying himself. Then he made a comment about how I look, which he's allowed to. I was just out there talking to him. I just enjoy him so much. He's so much about what's good about our game."

• Indians setup man Cody Allen was charged with a blown save on Monday after allowing a game-tying, solo home run to Detroit's J.D. Martinez in the ninth inning. Allen has allowed four runs in his past inning of work (two games) after giving up three runs in his previous 16 innings (20 games), boosting his season ERA to 3.71 from 1.69.

"Pitchers, they go through little periods where they don't feel totally comfortable out there," Allen said. "I felt fine [Monday]. [Sunday] was a day where I just didn't feel comfortable out there. I threw one pitch where [Martinez] was able to get it up in the air and drive the ball out to center field."

• On Tuesday, the Indians named Class A Lake County right-hander Robbie Aviles the organization's Minor League player of the week for May 12-18. The 22-year-old Aviles spun six no-hit, shutout innings against West Michigan on Friday. In three starts since moving out of the Captains' bullpen, the righty has allowed three runs in 19 innings with eight strikeouts and five walks.