powered by Google  
CBSSports.com Rodriguez makes Carmona pay with walk-off in ninth - MLB Sports News   Track your favorite teams and players.
Free membership, Register Now
Already a member, Log In
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Home   Fantasy     NFL  |  MLB  |  NBA  |  NHL  |  College FB  |  College BK  |  Golf  |  More CBS College | MaxPreps | Mobile | Shop  
MLB Home | Scoreboard | Standings | Schedules | Stats | Teams | Players | Transactions | Injuries | Video | Fantasy News
 
 

Detroit vs. Cleveland


Preview · Winning Edge · GameCenter · Full Play-by-Play · Box Score · Game Chart
 
 
 
Rodriguez makes Carmona pay with walk-off in ninth

CBS SportsLine.com wire reports
 

DETROIT -- Ivan Rodriguez gave the Detroit Tigers a second straight victory in their final at-bat.

Rodriguez hit a game-winning two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning off struggling reliever Fausto Carmona to give Detroit a 4-3 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Saturday night.

With Placido Polanco on first, Rodriguez connected on Carmona's first pitch for his ninth homer.

"I wasn't trying to hit a home run, I just wanted to make good contact," said Rodriguez. "He threw me a fastball down the middle and I got all of it."

Carmona (1-7) has blown all three of his save opportunities since the Indians traded closer Bob Wickman to Atlanta on July 20. Carmona has allowed 11 runs and eight hits in 2 2/3 innings over his last four outings.

"We're just going to have to take a look at everything and see what the best way to go is," said Indians' manager Eric Wedge about Carmona's immediate future.

It was the second straight game that Detroit won in its last at-bat. Craig Monroe hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning on Friday night to give Detroit a 7-6 win.

 

Marcus Thames also homered for the Tigers.

Travis Hafner homered in his fourth straight game for Cleveland and Casey Blake also hit a home run. Blake left after injuring his leg in the top of the ninth inning while trying to get back to second base.

Wedge said there was no word on Blake after the game.

Joel Zumaya (6-1) pitched two hitless innings for the victory.

Kenny Rogers, who hasn't won since July 5, appeared headed for another early exit as he gave up three runs in the first inning.

Hafner hit a two-run homer with one out by driving Rogers' 1-2 pitch into the right-centerfield stands an estimated 414 feet away. His 33rd homer also scored Grady Sizemore, who led off with a double.

With two outs, Blake lined a 3-2 pitch off the foul pole in left for his 16th homer.

Rogers hit Shin-Soo Choo and walked Andy Marte in the second and gave up a single to Blake in the third. But he then righted himself and retired 13 of the last 14 batters he faced.

Rogers allowed three runs and four hits in seven innings, walking two and striking out three.

"I really needed this game to settle down," Rogers said. "I made adjustments and was able to give us a chance to win."

Indians' starter Paul Byrd kept the Tigers off balance and consistently worked from ahead in the count. He gave up one earned run and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings, walking two and striking out four.

"We played a good game. We battled hard to the end," said Byrd. "That's the way things are going."

Polanco's two-out RBI single in the seventh made it 3-2 and chased Byrd. Jason Davis came on and got out of the inning by getting Rodriguez to ground into a force out.

Davis also got the first two outs in the eighth inning, but a single by Craig Monroe and an error by Hector Luna at second on Sean Casey's grounder put runners on first and third. Pinch runner Omar Infante then stole second but Thames grounded out.

Thames had homered with one out in the fifth. He connected with Byrd's 0-2 pitch and sent it into the left-field stands for his 20th of the season.

Notes

  • If his throwing session on Sunday goes well, Detroit LHP Mike Maroth will be sent on a rehabilitation assignment and start on Wednesday for Triple-A Toledo, according to pitching coach Chuck Hernandez. Maroth is on the 60-day DL after undergoing surgery on his left elbow.
  • Hafner matched his career high with his 33rd homer.
  • Tigers' RF and cleanup hitter Magglio Ordonez didn't start because, "He hasn't had much success against Byrd (4-for-29)and his leg was barking a little bit," manager Jim Leyland said.
  • Thames' home run was his first since July 16.
 
Copyright 2010 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and The Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
 
 
 
Ivan Rodriguez comes down the home stretch after hitting his walk-off homer. (US Presswire)
Ivan Rodriguez comes down the home stretch after hitting his walk-off homer. (US Presswire)  

 
Scoreboard
Cleveland300000000342
Detroit «0000101024100

Players of the Game
Detroit
I. Rodriguez AB 5
R 1
H 2
HR 1
RBI 2
Cleveland
T. Hafner AB 3
R 1
H 1
HR 1
RBI 2

Cleveland Indians
Grady Sizemore, CF3110002.300
Jason Michaels, LF3000002.269
Travis Hafner, DH2112000.306
Victor J. Martinez, C2000000.312
Casey Blake, 1B2121000.311
Jhonny Peralta, SS2000001.252
Shin-Soo Choo, RF1000000.233
Hector Luna, 2B2000001.280
Andy Marte, 3B1000100.118
Totals18343106
BATTING
2B - G Sizemore (36)
HR - T Hafner (33); C Blake (16)
RBI - T Hafner 2 (94); C Blake (51)

Cleveland Indians
Paul Byrd 4.03001304.84

Detroit Tigers
Curtis Granderson, CF1000101.280
Placido Polanco, 2B2000001.298
Ivan Rodriguez, C2000010.308
Dmitri Young, DH2010001.276
Carlos Guillen, SS2010001.306
Craig Monroe, LF2000010.267
Sean Casey, 1B1000000.290
Marcus Thames, RF1000010.273
Brandon Inge, 3B1010000.243
Totals14030134

Detroit Tigers
Kenny Rogers 4.24331024.67

Other Games
Tex 3 Final
LAA 10
Oak 5 Final
Sea 2
CHW 7 Final
Tor 1
NYY 0 Final
Balt 5
Min 14 Final
KC 3
Bos 5 Final
TB 8
Atl 6 Final
Cin 8
Phi 3 Final
NYM 4
Pitt 5 Final
CHC 7
LAD 10 Final
Fla 2
Mil 3 Final
StL 4
Colo 2 Final (11)
SF 1
Hou 9 Final
Ariz 3
Wash 3 Final
SD 6
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fantasy Baseball