GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: DETROIT (83-67) at CLEVELAND (87-62)

AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">DETROIT (5) VS CLEVELAND (6) - FINAL IN 11 INNINGS

DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 5 0 0 0 0 1 1 .299
P Polanco 2b 5 1 3 1 0 0 0 .342
G Sheffield dh 4 0 1 0 1 1 2 .269
M Ordonez rf 5 1 2 0 0 0 3 .357
C Guillen 1b 5 2 2 0 0 1 2 .296
I Rodriguez c 5 1 0 1 0 2 1 .279
T Perez lf 3 0 1 1 0 0 0 .429
B Clevlen lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125
a-S Casey ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .287
C Maybin pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167
O Infante ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .268
R Santiago ss 3 0 2 2 0 0 0 .260
b-M Thames ph-lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241
B Inge 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .241

Totals 42 5 12 5 1 6 11

a-singled to center for B Clevlen in the 9th; b-grounded into fielder's choice
to shortstop for R Santiago in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - C Guillen 2 (32, P Byrd 2); P Polanco (34, R Betancourt). HR - P
Polanco (9, 3rd inning off P Byrd 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - R Santiago 2 (5), P
Polanco (65), I Rodriguez (63), T Perez (10). 2-out RBI - R Santiago, P
Polanco. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Ordonez 1, C Guillen 1, C
Granderson 1. GIDP - B Inge, M Ordonez. Team LOB - 5.

BASERUNNING: SB - C Maybin (4, 2nd base off J Borowski/K Shoppach). CS - G
Sheffield (5, 3rd base by A Fultz/K Shoppach). Picked Off - R Santiago (1st
base, P Byrd).

FIELDING: DP: 2 (B Inge-P Polanco-C Guillen, I Rodriguez-P Polanco).


CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
G Sizemore cf 4 1 0 0 1 1 1 .273
A Cabrera 2b-ss 4 2 2 0 1 0 0 .295
T Hafner dh 5 0 1 0 0 1 3 .253
V Martinez 1b 4 0 0 1 1 0 1 .304
J Peralta ss 2 2 2 3 3 0 0 .271
J Barfield pr-2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246
J Michaels rf 3 0 1 0 0 0 3 .273
a-F Gutierrez ph-rf 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 .271
K Lofton lf 5 0 1 0 0 1 1 .295
C Blake 3b 4 1 1 1 1 0 2 .267
K Shoppach c 3 0 0 0 0 2 2 .262

Totals 36 6 9 5 7 6 14

a-singled to left for J Michaels in the 8th.

BATTING: 3B - A Cabrera (2, K Rogers). HR - J Peralta 2 (20, 4th inning off K
Rogers 0 on, 0 Out, 8th inning off J Zumaya 1 on, 2 Out), C Blake (17, 11th
inning off Z Miner 0 on, 1 Out). S - K Shoppach. RBI - J Peralta 3 (71), V
Martinez (105), C Blake (72). 2-out RBI - J Peralta 2. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - J Michaels 1, T Hafner 1. GIDP - K Shoppach. Team LOB - 7.

BASERUNNING: CS - J Barfield (5, 2nd base by Z Miner/I Rodriguez). Picked Off
- J Michaels (1st base, K Rogers).

FIELDING: E - J Peralta (18, ground ball); J Michaels (1, bobble). DP: 2 (K
Shoppach-C Blake-V Martinez, C Blake-A Cabrera-V Martinez).


----------------------------------------------------
DETROIT - 011 300 000 00 -- 5
CLEVELAND - 100 100 030 01 -- 6

One out when winning run scored.
----------------------------------------------------

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
K Rogers 7 5 2 2 3 4 1 4.24
J Zumaya (B, 4) 1 3 3 3 1 1 1 4.65
Z Miner (L, 3-4) 2 1/3 1 1 1 3 1 1 2.98

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
P Byrd 7 1/3 10 5 4 1 0 1 4.36
A Fultz 2/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.00
J Borowski 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 5.22
R Betancourt (W, 5-1) 2 1 0 0 0 4 0 1.48

WP - K Rogers. Pitches-strikes: K Rogers 100-62; J Zumaya 21-13; Z Miner
43-20; P Byrd 101-67; A Fultz 5-3; J Borowski 19-14; R Betancourt 23-18. Ground
balls-fly balls: K Rogers 10-6; J Zumaya 2-0; Z Miner 3-2; P Byrd 10-11; A
Fultz 0-0; J Borowski 1-1; R Betancourt 0-2. Batters faced: K Rogers 27; J
Zumaya 7; Z Miner 10; P Byrd 31; A Fultz 1; J Borowski 4; R Betancourt 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Larry Poncino. 1B--Paul Emmel. 2B--Gary Darling. 3B--Jerry
Meals.

T--3:38. Att--28,825.
Weather: 68 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, right to
left.</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
DETROIT 5
CLEVELAND 6 FINAL</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DETROIT (5) AT CLEVELAND (6) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CLEVELAND 1ST: G Sizemore grounded out to pitcher. A Cabrera tripled to
left. T Hafner struck out swinging. V Martinez walked. A Cabrera scored,
V Martinez to second on wild pitch by K Rogers. J Peralta walked. J Michaels
grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, J Peralta out at second. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 0, CLEVELAND 1.

DETROIT 2ND: C Guillen doubled to right. I Rodriguez lined out to pitcher.
T Perez grounded out to second, C Guillen to third. R Santiago singled to
left center, C Guillen scored. R Santiago picked off first.(1 Run, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) DETROIT 1, CLEVELAND 1.

DETROIT 3RD: B Inge grounded out to third. C Granderson popped out to
third. P Polanco homered to left. G Sheffield grounded out to shortstop.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 2, CLEVELAND 1.

DETROIT 4TH: M Ordonez singled to left. C Guillen doubled to left,
M Ordonez to third. I Rodriguez safe at first on error by shortstop J Peralta,
M Ordonez scored, C Guillen to third. T Perez singled to right, C Guillen
scored, I Rodriguez to second, I Rodriguez to third on error by right fielder
J Michaels. R Santiago reached on bunt single to first, I Rodriguez scored,
T Perez to second. B Inge bunted into double play, catcher to third to first,
T Perez out at third, R Santiago to second. C Granderson popped out to shortstop.
(3 Runs, 4 Hits, 2 Errors) DETROIT 5, CLEVELAND 1.

CLEVELAND 4TH: J Peralta homered to center. J Michaels singled to left.
K Lofton singled to center, J Michaels to second. C Blake lined out to right.
K Shoppach grounded into double play, third to second to first, K Lofton out
at second. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 5, CLEVELAND 2.

CLEVELAND 8TH: B Clevlen in left field. J Zumaya relieved K Rogers.
G Sizemore walked. A Cabrera singled to left, G Sizemore to second. T Hafner
grounded out to second, G Sizemore to third, A Cabrera to second. V Martinez
grounded out to first, G Sizemore scored, A Cabrera to third. J Peralta
homered to right, A Cabrera scored. F Gutierrez hit for J Michaels.
F Gutierrez singled to left. K Lofton struck out looking. (3 Runs, 3 Hits,
0 Errors) DETROIT 5, CLEVELAND 5.

CLEVELAND 11TH: K Lofton grounded out to second. C Blake homered to left
center. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 5, CLEVELAND 6.</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DETROIT (5) AT CLEVELAND (6) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Detroit Starting Lineups -- C Granderson CF, P Polanco 2B, G Sheffield DH,
M Ordonez RF, C Guillen 1B, I Rodriguez C, T Perez LF, R Santiago SS, B Inge 3B,
K Rogers LHP.

Cleveland Starting Lineups -- G Sizemore CF, A Cabrera 2B, T Hafner DH,
V Martinez 1B, J Peralta SS, J Michaels RF, K Lofton LF, C Blake 3B, K Shoppach C,
P Byrd RHP.

Umpires -- Larry Poncino (HP), Paul Emmel (1B), Gary Darling (2B), Jerry Meals (3B).

Gametime Weather: 68 degrees, Clear, wind right to left at 8 mph.


DETROIT 1ST: C Granderson grounded out to first. P Polanco flied out to
center. G Sheffield singled to left. M Ordonez flied out to center. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 0, CLEVELAND 0.

CLEVELAND 1ST: G Sizemore grounded out to pitcher. A Cabrera tripled to
left. T Hafner struck out swinging. V Martinez walked. A Cabrera scored,
V Martinez to second on wild pitch by K Rogers. J Peralta walked. J Michaels
grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, J Peralta out at second. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 0, CLEVELAND 1.

DETROIT 2ND: C Guillen doubled to right. I Rodriguez lined out to pitcher.
T Perez grounded out to second, C Guillen to third. R Santiago singled to
left center, C Guillen scored. R Santiago picked off first. (1 Run, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) DETROIT 1, CLEVELAND 1.

CLEVELAND 2ND: K Lofton grounded out to second. C Blake flied out to
right. K Shoppach struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 1,
CLEVELAND 1.

DETROIT 3RD: B Inge grounded out to third. C Granderson popped out to
third. P Polanco homered to left. G Sheffield grounded out to shortstop.
(1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 2, CLEVELAND 1.

CLEVELAND 3RD: G Sizemore struck out looking. A Cabrera grounded out to
shortstop. T Hafner singled to center. V Martinez grounded out to third.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 2, CLEVELAND 1.

DETROIT 4TH: M Ordonez singled to left. C Guillen doubled to left,
M Ordonez to third. I Rodriguez safe at first on error by shortstop J Peralta,
M Ordonez scored, C Guillen to third. T Perez singled to right, C Guillen
scored, I Rodriguez to second, I Rodriguez to third on error by right fielder
J Michaels. R Santiago reached on bunt single to first, I Rodriguez scored,
T Perez to second. B Inge bunted into double play, catcher to third to first,
T Perez out at third, R Santiago to second. C Granderson popped out to shortstop.
(3 Runs, 4 Hits, 2 Errors) DETROIT 5, CLEVELAND 1.

CLEVELAND 4TH: J Peralta homered to center. J Michaels singled to left.
K Lofton singled to center, J Michaels to second. C Blake lined out to right.
K Shoppach grounded into double play, third to second to first, K Lofton out
at second. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 5, CLEVELAND 2.

DETROIT 5TH: P Polanco singled to left. G Sheffield popped out to second.
M Ordonez grounded into double play, third to second to first, P Polanco out
at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 5, CLEVELAND 2.

CLEVELAND 5TH: G Sizemore lined out to right. A Cabrera flied out to
right. T Hafner grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
DETROIT 5, CLEVELAND 2.

DETROIT 6TH: C Guillen flied out to left. I Rodriguez flied out to left.
T Perez flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 5, CLEVELAND 2.

CLEVELAND 6TH: V Martinez grounded out to third. J Peralta walked.
J Michaels grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, J Peralta out at second.
J Michaels picked off first.(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 5, CLEVELAND 2.

DETROIT 7TH: R Santiago grounded out to first. B Inge popped out to
second. C Granderson grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
DETROIT 5, CLEVELAND 2.

CLEVELAND 7TH: K Lofton flied out to left. C Blake flied out to right.
K Shoppach struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 5, CLEVELAND 2.

DETROIT 8TH: P Polanco flied out to center. G Sheffield walked. M Ordonez
singled to left center, G Sheffield to second. A Fultz relieved P Byrd.
G Sheffield caught stealing third, catcher to third, M Ordonez to second on
runner's fielder's choice. C Guillen struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) DETROIT 5, CLEVELAND 2.

CLEVELAND 8TH: B Clevlen in left field. J Zumaya relieved K Rogers.
G Sizemore walked. A Cabrera singled to left, G Sizemore to second. T Hafner
grounded out to second, G Sizemore to third, A Cabrera to second. V Martinez
grounded out to first, G Sizemore scored, A Cabrera to third. J Peralta
homered to right, A Cabrera scored. F Gutierrez hit for J Michaels.
F Gutierrez singled to left. K Lofton struck out looking. (3 Runs, 3 Hits,
0 Errors) DETROIT 5, CLEVELAND 5.

DETROIT 9TH: F Gutierrez in right field. J Borowski relieved A Fultz.
I Rodriguez struck out swinging. S Casey hit for B Clevlen. S Casey singled to
center. C Maybin ran for S Casey. M Thames hit for R Santiago. C Maybin stole
second. M Thames grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, C Maybin out at
third. B Inge flied out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 5,
CLEVELAND 5.

CLEVELAND 9TH: O Infante at shortstop. M Thames in left field. Z Miner
relieved J Zumaya. C Blake walked. K Shoppach sacrificed to first, C Blake to
second. G Sizemore flied out to left. A Cabrera walked. T Hafner grounded
out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 5, CLEVELAND 5.

DETROIT 10TH: R Betancourt relieved J Borowski. C Granderson struck out
swinging. P Polanco doubled to center. G Sheffield struck out swinging.
M Ordonez flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 5, CLEVELAND 5.

CLEVELAND 10TH: V Martinez flied out to center. J Peralta walked.
J Barfield ran for J Peralta. F Gutierrez struck out swinging. J Barfield
caught stealing second, catcher to second.(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
DETROIT 5, CLEVELAND 5.

DETROIT 11TH: A Cabrera at shortstop. J Barfield at second base. C Guillen
flied out to center. I Rodriguez struck out swinging. O Infante struck out
swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 5, CLEVELAND 5.

CLEVELAND 11TH: K Lofton grounded out to second. C Blake homered to left
center. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 5, CLEVELAND 6.</div>

 

Blake's second walk-off homer in four days lifts Indians

<h3>CLEVELAND 6, DETROIT 5 (11 INNINGS)</h3>By Todd Krepop
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Jim Leyland's Detroit Tigers were fourouts away from perhaps not being such a long shot after all.But then Jhonny Peralta and Casey Blake struck.


Peralta hit a two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of theeighth inning and Blake hit his second walk-off homer in fourdays to lift the Cleveland Indians to a 6-5 victory over thedemoralized Tigers on Monday.


Blake's ninth-inning blast Friday beat the Kansas City Royals,5-4.


After Rafael Betancourt (5-1) pitched two scoreless inningsMonday, Blake hit a 1-2 breaking ball from Zach Miner (3-4) overthe fence in left-center field to provide Cleveland its 13thwin in its last at-bat this season and a crushing blow to theTigers' postseason hopes.


Before the game on Monday, Leyland told reporters that his teamwas a "huge, huge, long shot" to win the American League Centraldespite cutting a seven-game lead to 3 1/2 games entering thisone, largely on the heels of a six-game winning streak.

However the loss dropped Detroit (83-68) 4 1/2 games back ofCleveland (88-62) in the division and three back of the New YorkYankees (85-64) in the wild card race.


After a season-high seven innings, Kenny Rogers looked like hewas on his way to ending a five-start winless skid afterallowing two runs and five hits. But Peralta hit a two-out,two-run homer off of flamethrower Joel Zumaya in the eighth totie the game up at 5-5.


Detroit took control of a 2-1 game with a three-run fourth toincrease their lead.


Cleveland starter Paul Byrd allowed five runs - four earned - on10 hits in 7 1/3 innings.

 

Blake's second walk-off homer in four days lifts Indians

<h3>CLEVELAND 6, DETROIT 5 (11 INNINGS)</h3>By Todd Krepop
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Jim Leyland's Detroit Tigers were fourouts away from perhaps not being such a long shot after all.But then Jhonny Peralta and Casey Blake struck.


Peralta hit a two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of theeighth inning and Blake hit his second walk-off homer in fourdays to lift the Cleveland Indians to a 6-5 victory over thedemoralized Tigers on Monday.


It was just the latest improbable victory for the Indians thisseason. Cleveland has now won 40 games in which they havetrailed, including 10 walk-off wins.


"This symbolizes the way our year has gone," Indians starterPaul Byrd said. "Just when you think we are done, somethingmiraculous happens. We won a game we probably shouldn't have.

It was the second walk-off home run for the Indians thirdbaseman in four nights. Blake's ninth-inning blast on Fridaybeat the Kansas City Royals, 5-4.


"He's had some really big hits late in ballgames," Indiansmanager Eric Wedge said. "He's a fantastic baseball player."

After Rafael Betancourt (5-1) pitched two scoreless inningsMonday, Blake hit a 1-2 breaking ball from Zach Miner (3-4) overthe fence in left-center field sending Jacobs Field into astate of pandemonium.


"It's probably the biggest game we have played all year," Blakesaid. "What a great team win."


Before the game on Monday, Leyland told reporters that his teamwas a "huge, huge, long shot" to win the American League Centraldespite cutting a seven-game lead to 4 1/2 games entering thisone, largely on the heels of a five-game winning streak.

"We still have 11 games left," Miner said. "We were dead andburied five days ago and got five wins. We played good tonightand could have made it six."


However the loss dropped Detroit (83-68) 5 1/2 games back ofCleveland (88-62) in the division and 3 1/2 of the New YorkYankees (85-64) in the wild card race.


"We were six outs away from a win and being 3 1/2 out," Leylandsaid. "We're down, but we had a good chance to win. Now we haveto bust our butts the next two games.


Despite having the advantage of knowing, no matter what theoutcome of the series, they would still be in first place, theIndians still felt a sense of urgency.


"First, second, and third (games), we need them all," Blakesaid. "But to lose the first game would have been tough. That'swhy it was such a big win."


Cleveland managed to overcome a 1-for-9 night with runners inscoring position and two errors.


"This time of year you can throw everything out the windowexcept wins and losses," Wedge said.


After a season-high seven innings, Kenny Rogers looked like hewas on his way to ending a five-start winless skid afterallowing two runs and five hits.


But Peralta, who had homered earlier in the game, hit a two-out,two-run homer off of flamethrower Joel Zumaya in the eighth totie the game up at 5-5.


"I was looking for a fastball," Peralta said. "(Zumaya) almostalways throws a fastball. I was looking for a fastball away andthat's what I got."


It was the second career two-homer game for Peralta and fourthof his career.


"Jhonny had a huge night for us," Wedge said. "Jhonny was thereason we were able to play extra innings."


"We would have never been in the spot (to win) if not for JhonnyPeralta," Blake said. Detroit took control of a 2-1 game with athree-run fourth to increase their lead. Byrd allowed five runs- four earned - on 10 hits in 7 1/3 innings, but he and threerelievers combined to hold the Tigers scoreless over the finalseven innings.


The loss was the latest setback Detroit has suffered againstCleveland this season. Cleveland has won 10 of the 16 gamesagainst Detroit, including the last three in a row.

"Whether they do it at the start or the end, they get it done,"Rogers said. "That's the sign of a good team. They are tough,especially at home."