GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: DETROIT (65-53) at CLEVELAND (65-53)

AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J Lewis relieved J Borowski.
SITUATION: 4 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 6
CLEVELAND 2 TOP, 10TH

DUE UP FOR DETROIT: I Rodriguez (.276, 0-FOR-4)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
- - - - - - - - -
DETROIT 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0
CLEVELAND 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

10 R H E
-- - - -
DETROIT 4 6 14 0
CLEVELAND 2 5 0 (BOT 10)

CURRENT PITCHERS: DET - FERNANDO RODNEY
CLE - JENSEN LEWIS

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: J MICHAELS (.268, 0-FOR-1)
C BLAKE (.264, 0-FOR-2, BB, HBP)
G SIZEMORE (.278, 2-FOR-2, 2 BB, HR, 2 RBI)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">DETROIT (6) VS CLEVELAND (2) - MID 10TH - IN PROGRESS

DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 4 1 0 0 1 3 3 .294
R Raburn 2b 5 2 2 0 0 1 1 .353
G Sheffield dh 5 1 1 1 0 1 0 .284
M Ordonez rf 5 1 3 4 0 0 0 .359
C Guillen 1b 5 0 2 0 0 1 1 .308
I Rodriguez c 5 0 1 0 0 2 4 .278
M Thames lf 5 1 2 0 0 0 0 .263
O Infante ss 4 0 3 1 1 0 0 .276
B Inge 3b 5 0 0 0 0 4 4 .239

Totals 43 6 14 6 2 12 13

BATTING: 2B - O Infante 2 (5, C Sabathia, J Lewis); R Raburn (6, C Sabathia); M
Thames (9, C Sabathia); I Rodriguez (24, J Lewis). HR - M Ordonez (22, 10th
inning off J Borowski 2 on, 0 Out). RBI - M Ordonez 4 (108), O Infante (17), G
Sheffield (71). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - I Rodriguez 1, B Inge
2, C Granderson 1. Team LOB - 9.


CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
K Lofton lf 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
a-J Michaels ph-lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .268
C Blake 3b 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 .264
G Sizemore cf 2 1 2 2 2 0 0 .278
V Martinez c 4 0 0 0 0 2 3 .301
T Hafner dh 4 0 1 0 0 2 2 .254
R Garko 1b 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 .307
C Gomez pr-1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .310
J Peralta ss 4 0 0 0 0 3 2 .273
T Nixon rf 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 .258
F Gutierrez rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .280
J Barfield 2b 4 0 0 0 0 3 3 .243

Totals 31 2 5 2 4 13 12

a-struck out swinging for K Lofton in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - R Garko (21, J Bonderman); C Gomez (11, F Rodney). HR - G
Sizemore (20, 1st inning off J Bonderman 1 on, 1 Out). RBI - G Sizemore 2 (66).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Hafner 1, J Barfield 2. Team LOB -
7.

BASERUNNING: CS - G Sizemore (8, 2nd base by J Bonderman/I Rodriguez).

FIELDING: Outfield assists - G Sizemore (I Rodriguez at Home).


----------------------------------------------------
DETROIT - 000 001 100 4 -- 6
CLEVELAND - 200 000 000 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
J Bonderman 7 4 2 2 2 8 1 4.65
T Byrdak 1 0 0 0 2 2 0 3.37
F Rodney 1 1 0 0 0 3 0 4.59

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
C Sabathia 7 7 2 2 1 8 0 3.48
R Betancourt 2 1 0 0 0 3 0 1.61
J Borowski 1/3 3 4 4 1 0 1 5.67
J Lewis 2/3 3 0 0 0 1 0 2.92

IBB - T Nixon (by J Bonderman). HBP - C Blake (by J Bonderman).
Pitches-strikes: J Bonderman 109-65; T Byrdak 24-11; F Rodney 25-17; C Sabathia
96-60; R Betancourt 19-17; J Borowski 18-12; J Lewis 19-11. Ground balls-fly
balls: J Bonderman 8-4; T Byrdak 0-1; F Rodney 0-0; C Sabathia 7-6; R
Betancourt 0-3; J Borowski 0-1; J Lewis 0-0. Batters faced: J Bonderman 27; T
Byrdak 5; F Rodney 4; C Sabathia 29; R Betancourt 7; J Borowski 5; J Lewis 4.


UMPIRES: HP--Ed Hickox. 1B--C.B. Bucknor. 2B--Joe West. 3B--Ed Rapuano.

Weather: 76 degrees, clear. Wind: 12 mph, out to right.</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - PITCHING CHANGE
DET: TODD JONES (1-4, 4.47) STARTING THE 10TH
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 6, CLEVELAND 2

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: J MICHAELS (.268, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL AT CLEVELAND - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: T Jones relieved F Rodney.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: DETROIT 6
CLEVELAND 2 BOTTOM, 10TH

DUE UP FOR CLEVELAND: J Michaels (.268, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL FINAL 10
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
- - - - - - - - -
DETROIT 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0
CLEVELAND 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

10 R H E
-- - - -
DETROIT 4 6 14 0
CLEVELAND 0 2 6 0 (FINAL 10)

BATTERIES: DET - JEREMY BONDERMAN, TIM BYRDAK (8TH), FERNANDO RODNEY (9TH),
TODD JONES (10TH) AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ

CLE - C.C. SABATHIA, RAFAEL BETANCOURT (8TH), JOE
BOROWSKI (10TH), JENSEN LEWIS (10TH) AND VICTOR MARTINEZ

HOME RUNS: DET - MAGGLIO ORDONEZ (22) OFF JOE BOROWSKI IN THE 10TH, 2 ON

CLE - GRADY SIZEMORE (20) OFF JEREMY BONDERMAN IN THE 1ST, 1 ON</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">AL FINAL 10
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
- - - - - - - - -
DETROIT 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0
CLEVELAND 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

10 R H E
-- - - -
DETROIT 4 6 14 0
CLEVELAND 0 2 6 0 (FINAL 10)

BATTERIES: DET - JEREMY BONDERMAN, TIM BYRDAK (8TH), FERNANDO RODNEY (9TH),
TODD JONES (10TH) AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ

CLE - C.C. SABATHIA, RAFAEL BETANCOURT (8TH), JOE
BOROWSKI (10TH), JENSEN LEWIS (10TH) AND VICTOR MARTINEZ


WP - FERNANDO RODNEY (2-5)
LP - JOE BOROWSKI (2-5)
SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS: DET - MAGGLIO ORDONEZ (22) OFF JOE BOROWSKI IN THE 10TH, 2 ON

CLE - GRADY SIZEMORE (20) OFF JEREMY BONDERMAN IN THE 1ST, 1 ON


TIME: 3:29 ATT: 37,570

PROBABLES: DET - JAIR JURRJENS (NR)
CLE - FAUSTO CARMONA (13-7, 3.26)</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">DETROIT (6) VS CLEVELAND (2) - FINAL IN 10 INNINGS

DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
C Granderson cf 4 1 0 0 1 3 3 .294
R Raburn 2b 5 2 2 0 0 1 1 .353
G Sheffield dh 5 1 1 1 0 1 0 .284
M Ordonez rf 5 1 3 4 0 0 0 .359
C Guillen 1b 5 0 2 0 0 1 1 .308
I Rodriguez c 5 0 1 0 0 2 4 .278
M Thames lf 5 1 2 0 0 0 0 .263
O Infante ss 4 0 3 1 1 0 0 .276
B Inge 3b 5 0 0 0 0 4 4 .239

Totals 43 6 14 6 2 12 13

BATTING: 2B - O Infante 2 (5, C Sabathia, J Lewis); R Raburn (6, C Sabathia); M
Thames (9, C Sabathia); I Rodriguez (24, J Lewis). HR - M Ordonez (22, 10th
inning off J Borowski 2 on, 0 Out). RBI - M Ordonez 4 (108), O Infante (17), G
Sheffield (71). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - I Rodriguez 1, B Inge
2, C Granderson 1. Team LOB - 9.


CLEVELAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
K Lofton lf 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .293
a-J Michaels ph-lf 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 .271
C Blake 3b 2 1 0 0 2 0 0 .264
G Sizemore cf 3 1 2 2 2 0 0 .278
V Martinez c 5 0 0 0 0 3 5 .300
T Hafner dh 5 0 1 0 0 2 4 .253
R Garko 1b 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 .307
C Gomez pr-1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .310
J Peralta ss 4 0 0 0 0 3 2 .273
T Nixon rf 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 .258
F Gutierrez rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .280
J Barfield 2b 4 0 0 0 0 3 3 .243

Totals 35 2 6 2 5 14 16

a-struck out swinging for K Lofton in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - R Garko (21, J Bonderman); C Gomez (11, F Rodney). HR - G
Sizemore (20, 1st inning off J Bonderman 1 on, 1 Out). RBI - G Sizemore 2 (66).
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Hafner 3, J Barfield 2. Team LOB -
9.

BASERUNNING: CS - G Sizemore (8, 2nd base by J Bonderman/I Rodriguez).

FIELDING: Outfield assists - G Sizemore (I Rodriguez at Home).


----------------------------------------------------
DETROIT - 000 001 100 4 -- 6
CLEVELAND - 200 000 000 0 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era
J Bonderman 7 4 2 2 2 8 1 4.65
T Byrdak 1 0 0 0 2 2 0 3.37
F Rodney (W, 2-5) 1 1 0 0 0 3 0 4.59
T Jones 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 4.38

CLEVELAND ip h r er bb so hr era
C Sabathia 7 7 2 2 1 8 0 3.48
R Betancourt 2 1 0 0 0 3 0 1.61
J Borowski (L, 2-5) 1/3 3 4 4 1 0 1 5.67
J Lewis 2/3 3 0 0 0 1 0 2.92

WP - T Jones. IBB - T Nixon (by J Bonderman). HBP - C Blake (by J Bonderman).
Pitches-strikes: J Bonderman 109-65; T Byrdak 24-11; F Rodney 25-17; T Jones
19-11; C Sabathia 96-60; R Betancourt 19-17; J Borowski 18-12; J Lewis 19-11.
Ground balls-fly balls: J Bonderman 8-4; T Byrdak 0-1; F Rodney 0-0; T Jones
2-0; C Sabathia 7-6; R Betancourt 0-3; J Borowski 0-1; J Lewis 0-0. Batters
faced: J Bonderman 27; T Byrdak 5; F Rodney 4; T Jones 5; C Sabathia 29; R
Betancourt 7; J Borowski 5; J Lewis 4.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Hickox. 1B--C.B. Bucknor. 2B--Joe West. 3B--Ed Rapuano.

T--3:29. Att--37,570.
Weather: 76 degrees, clear. Wind: 12 mph, out to
right.</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
DETROIT 6
CLEVELAND 2 FINAL</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DETROIT (6) AT CLEVELAND (2) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CLEVELAND 1ST: K Lofton grounded out to first. C Blake hit by pitch.
G Sizemore homered to right, C Blake scored. V Martinez grounded out to first.
T Hafner singled to center. R Garko grounded into fielder's choice to
shortstop, T Hafner out at second. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 0,
CLEVELAND 2.

DETROIT 6TH: R Raburn doubled to deep center. G Sheffield grounded out to
pitcher, R Raburn to third. M Ordonez grounded out to second, R Raburn scored.
C Guillen singled to left. I Rodriguez flied out to right. (1 Run, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) DETROIT 1, CLEVELAND 2.

DETROIT 7TH: M Thames doubled to left. O Infante singled to center,
M Thames scored. B Inge struck out looking. C Granderson struck out swinging.
R Raburn grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 2,
CLEVELAND 2.

DETROIT 10TH: J Borowski relieved R Betancourt. C Granderson walked.
R Raburn singled to right, C Granderson to third. G Sheffield singled to left
center, C Granderson scored, R Raburn to third. M Ordonez homered to left,
R Raburn and G Sheffield scored. C Guillen flied out to right. J Lewis relieved
J Borowski. I Rodriguez doubled to deep right. M Thames reached on infield
single to shortstop. O Infante doubled to deep center, I Rodriguez tagged out
at home, M Thames to third. B Inge struck out swinging. (4 Runs, 6 Hits,
0 Errors) DETROIT 6, CLEVELAND 2.</div>

 

AL: DETROIT at CLEVELAND

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DETROIT (6) AT CLEVELAND (2) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Detroit Starting Lineups -- C Granderson CF, R Raburn 2B, G Sheffield DH,
M Ordonez RF, C Guillen 1B, I Rodriguez C, M Thames LF, O Infante SS, B Inge 3B,
J Bonderman RHP.

Cleveland Starting Lineups -- K Lofton LF, C Blake 3B, G Sizemore CF,
V Martinez C, T Hafner DH, R Garko 1B, J Peralta SS, T Nixon RF, J Barfield 2B,
C Sabathia LHP.

Umpires -- Ed Hickox (HP), C.B. Bucknor (1B), Joe West (2B), Ed Rapuano (3B).


Gametime Weather: 76 degrees, Clear, wind out to right at 12 mph.


DETROIT 1ST: C Granderson struck out swinging. R Raburn lined out to
third. G Sheffield struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 0,
CLEVELAND 0.

CLEVELAND 1ST: K Lofton grounded out to first. C Blake hit by pitch.
G Sizemore homered to right, C Blake scored. V Martinez grounded out to first.
T Hafner singled to center. R Garko grounded into fielder's choice to
shortstop, T Hafner out at second. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 0,
CLEVELAND 2.

DETROIT 2ND: M Ordonez flied out to center. C Guillen grounded out to
third. I Rodriguez grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
DETROIT 0, CLEVELAND 2.

CLEVELAND 2ND: J Peralta struck out swinging. T Nixon grounded out to
second. J Barfield struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 0,
CLEVELAND 2.

DETROIT 3RD: M Thames flied out to right. O Infante walked. B Inge struck
out swinging. C Granderson flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
DETROIT 0, CLEVELAND 2.

CLEVELAND 3RD: K Lofton grounded out to second. C Blake flied out to
right. G Sizemore reached on infield single to second. V Martinez struck out
swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 0, CLEVELAND 2.

DETROIT 4TH: R Raburn struck out looking. G Sheffield popped out to third.
M Ordonez singled to center. C Guillen reached on infield single to third,
M Ordonez to second. I Rodriguez struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
DETROIT 0, CLEVELAND 2.

CLEVELAND 4TH: T Hafner struck out swinging. R Garko struck out swinging.
J Peralta struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 0, CLEVELAND 2.

DETROIT 5TH: M Thames grounded out to shortstop. O Infante doubled to deep
left center. B Inge bunt grounded out to first, O Infante to third.
C Granderson struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 0, CLEVELAND 2.

CLEVELAND 5TH: T Nixon grounded out to pitcher. J Barfield popped out to
shortstop. K Lofton lined out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 0,
CLEVELAND 2.

DETROIT 6TH: R Raburn doubled to deep center. G Sheffield grounded out to
pitcher, R Raburn to third. M Ordonez grounded out to second, R Raburn scored.
C Guillen singled to left. I Rodriguez flied out to right. (1 Run, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) DETROIT 1, CLEVELAND 2.

CLEVELAND 6TH: C Blake fouled out to catcher. G Sizemore walked.
G Sizemore caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop. V Martinez grounded out
to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 1, CLEVELAND 2.

DETROIT 7TH: M Thames doubled to left. O Infante singled to center,
M Thames scored. B Inge struck out looking. C Granderson struck out swinging.
R Raburn grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 2,
CLEVELAND 2.

CLEVELAND 7TH: T Hafner struck out looking. R Garko doubled to deep left
center. C Gomez ran for R Garko. J Peralta grounded out to shortstop. T Nixon
intentionally walked. J Barfield struck out looking. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors)
DETROIT 2, CLEVELAND 2.

DETROIT 8TH: C Gomez at first base. F Gutierrez in right field.
R Betancourt relieved C Sabathia. G Sheffield flied out to center. M Ordonez
singled to right. C Guillen struck out looking. I Rodriguez struck out
swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 2, CLEVELAND 2.

CLEVELAND 8TH: T Byrdak relieved J Bonderman. J Michaels hit for K Lofton.
J Michaels struck out swinging. C Blake walked. G Sizemore walked, C Blake to
second. V Martinez struck out swinging. T Hafner flied out to center.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) DETROIT 2, CLEVELAND 2.

DETROIT 9TH: J Michaels in left field. M Thames flied out to right.
O Infante popped out to second. B Inge struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) DETROIT 2, CLEVELAND 2.

CLEVELAND 9TH: F Rodney relieved T Byrdak. C Gomez doubled to deep right.
J Peralta struck out swinging. F Gutierrez struck out swinging. J Barfield
struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) DETROIT 2, CLEVELAND 2.

DETROIT 10TH: J Borowski relieved R Betancourt. C Granderson walked.
R Raburn singled to right, C Granderson to third. G Sheffield singled to left
center, C Granderson scored, R Raburn to third. M Ordonez homered to left,
R Raburn and G Sheffield scored. C Guillen flied out to right. J Lewis relieved
J Borowski. I Rodriguez doubled to deep right. M Thames reached on infield
single to shortstop. O Infante doubled to deep center, I Rodriguez tagged out
at home, M Thames to third. B Inge struck out swinging. (4 Runs, 6 Hits,
0 Errors) DETROIT 6, CLEVELAND 2.

CLEVELAND 10TH: T Jones relieved F Rodney. J Michaels singled to right.
J Michaels to second on wild pitch by T Jones. C Blake walked. G Sizemore
grounded out to first, J Michaels to third, C Blake to second. V Martinez
struck out swinging. T Hafner grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) DETROIT 6, CLEVELAND 2.</div>

 

Ordonez's three-run blast in 10th helps Tigers down Indians

<h3>DETROIT 6, CLEVELAND 2</h3>CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- A great pitching duel between two of thebest young pitchers in the game turned into a laugher when JoeBorowski entered.


The Detroit Tigers scored four runs off Borowski, three on ahomer by Magglio Ordonez, in the 10th inning to break afirst-place tie in the American League Central Division with a6-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday.

After Detroit reliever Fernando Rodney (2-5) stranded a leadoffdouble by Chris Gomez in the ninth by striking out the nextthree batters, Borowski (2-5) walked Curtis Granderson to startthe 10th. Rookie Ryan Raburn then looped a single to rightadvancing Granderson to third. Gary Sheffield followed with aline shot over shortstop Jhonny Peralta's leep, scoringGranderson.


Ordonez followed by drilling a first-pitch offering fromBorowski well into the left field seats for his 22nd home run ofthe season.


Detroit closer Todd Jones survived a shaky ninth before closingout the victory.


Tigers starter Jeremy Bonderman and Indians starter C.C.Sabathia both departed after seven strong innings each and a 2-2tie.


Bonderman yielded a two-run homer to Grady Sizemore in thefirst. In his last five starts, Bonderman has allowed 13 runsand a 11.73 ERA in the first inning. He left after allowingfour hits and two walks to go along with eight strikeouts.

Bonderman gave his team a chance to win the game in the seventhas he struck out Josh Barfield with runners on first and secondand two out.


Sabathia couldn't hold the lead but was equally effective,yielding two runs and seven hits in seven frames with a walk andeight strikeouts. Sabathia bounced back from his last startagainst Detroit on July 5, where he allowed seven runs in fourinnings in his worst start of the season.


Detroit scored in the sixth and seventh. Omar Infante led offthe sixth with a double to left-center and scored two batterslater on Ordonez's groundout. The slugger has 108 RBI.

In the seventh, Marcus Thames hit a leadoff double to center andscored on Infante's RBI single. But Detroit wasn't able totake the lead as Sabathia retired the next three batters.

Center fielder Granderson saved the game with a diving catch inthe eighth to keep the score tied at 2-2. With runners on firstand second and two out, Travis Hafner hit a sinking line driveoff Bobby Seay to left-center. Granderson came racing in andlaid out to make a sprawling catch, just before the ball hit theground.


Both teams came into the game not playing their best baseball.Cleveland was 13-17 since the All-Star break and Detroit was8-17 since July 17.


Detroit was forced to play shorthanded because second basemanPlacido Polanco was out with the flu that has been making itsway through the Tigers' clubhouse.

 

Ordonez's three-run blast in 10th helps Tigers down Indians

<h3>DETROIT 6, CLEVELAND 2</h3>By Todd Krepop
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- A great pitching duel between two of thebest young pitchers in the game turned into a laugher when JoeBorowski entered.


The Detroit Tigers scored four runs off Borowski, three on ahomer by Magglio Ordonez in the 10th inning, to break afirst-place tie in the American League Central Division with a6-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday.

After Detroit reliever Fernando Rodney (2-5) stranded a leadoffdouble by Chris Gomez in the ninth by striking out the nextthree batters, Borowski (2-5) walked Curtis Granderson to startthe 10th. Rookie Ryan Raburn then looped a single to rightadvancing Granderson to third. Gary Sheffield followed with aline shot over shortstop Jhonny Peralta's leap, scoringGranderson.


"With this offense if you give us a second chance to score runs,we're going to capitalize," Sheffield said.


Ordonez followed by drilling a first-pitch offering fromBorowski well into the left field seats for his 22nd home run ofthe season.


"Mags has been a great player all year," Sheffield said.

Detroit closer Todd Jones survived a shaky ninth before closingout the victory, but Tigers manager Jim Leyland downplayed thesignificance of the win.


"Don't get too excited about this showdown stuff," Leyland said."It's still August 14th. I'm not going to jump up and downbecause we won. If we lose tomorrow, we're right back to wherewe started."


While Leyland was downplaying the significance of the victory,Indians manager Eric Wedge has had enough of his team'slackluster effort after he saw the Indians losing streak stretchto a season-high four games.


"These guys have to dig deep," said Wedge angrily. "We're goingto find out how tough these guys are. It's easy to be toughwhen you are winning. When you're going good, you get cheered.When you are going bad, you get booed. That's where thetoughness comes in.


"We have some guys who might be feeling sorry for themselves. Idon't like that."


Cleveland's offense has been non-existent in its last 21 games,having scored only 69 runs and batting .230. Tuesday night theyfailed to get back-to-back hits and went 0-for-10 with runnersin scoring position.


"That says it all right there," Wedge said. "That's all you needto know."


Tigers starter Jeremy Bonderman and Indians starter C.C.Sabathia both departed after seven strong innings each and a 2-2tie.


Bonderman yielded a two-run homer to Grady Sizemore in thefirst. In his last five starts, Bonderman has allowed 13 runsand a 11.73 ERA in the first inning. He left after allowingfour hits and two walks to go along with eight strikeouts.

Bonderman gave his team a chance to win the game in the seventhas he struck out Josh Barfield with runners on first and secondand two out.


"I made pitches when I had to," Bonderman said. "I wanted tokeep the game close."


Sabathia couldn't hold the lead but was equally effective,yielding two runs and seven hits in seven frames with a walk andeight strikeouts. Sabathia bounced back from his last startagainst Detroit on July 5, where he allowed seven runs in fourinnings in his worst start of the season.


Detroit scored in the sixth and seventh. Omar Infante led offthe sixth with a double to left-center and scored two batterslater on Ordonez's groundout. The slugger has 108 RBI.

"I had to work pretty hard," Sabathia said. "I gave up a coupleof leadoff doubles that hurt."


In the seventh, Marcus Thames hit a leadoff double to center andscored on Infante's RBI single. But Detroit wasn't able totake the lead as Sabathia retired the next three batters.

Center fielder Granderson saved the game with a diving catch inthe eighth to keep the score tied at 2-2. With runners on firstand second and two out, Travis Hafner hit a sinking line driveoff Bobby Seay to left-center. Granderson came racing in andlaid out to make a sprawling catch, just before the ball hit theground.


"I wasn't sure if I was going to get to it," Granderson said. "Iwas going to try my best to. You have to keep that run fromscoring. If I don't dive, the run scores anyway."

"(Granderson) made a big play when we needed it," Leyland said."You win games like this because of plays like that." It was ahuge, huge play for us."


Both teams came into the game not playing their best baseball.Cleveland was 13-17 since the All-Star break and Detroit was8-17 since July 17.


Detroit was forced to play shorthanded because second basemanPlacido Polanco was out with the flu that has been making itsway through the Tigers' clubhouse.


"We have a lot of depth," Sheffield said. "We've got guys thatwhen other guys go down, their backups step up."