AMERICAN LEAGUE
REUTERS AND AP, DETROIT
Detroit outfielder Clete Thomas smacked a two-out home run in the bottom of the ninth to complete a stirring 6-5 comeback victory for the Tigers over the Baltimore Orioles on Monday.
The Orioles raced out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning, but the resolute Tigers chipped away at the deficit to tie the game by the bottom of the fifth before Thomas capped the scoring to increase Detroit’s lead in the American League (AL) Central to two games.
Baltimore shocked Detroit ace Justin Verlander (12-5) by scoring all their runs in the first inning before the pitcher, the AL leader in strikeouts, settled down to keep the Orioles subdued for the next seven innings.
“He’s coming of age,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland told reporters. “That shows you tonight why he’s a horse. He’s one of the best pitchers in baseball. They shell-shocked him right off the bat, but he gathered himself.”
Verlander wound up allowing nine hits with eight strikeouts and one walk.
Brian Roberts led off the game with a home run and the next three Baltimore hitters singled to load the bases.
Luke Scott’s two-run double completed the productive first inning for the Orioles, but that was all they could muster off Verlander.
Detroit immediately answered with three runs in the first on an RBI double by Placido Polanco and a two-run double from Miguel Cabrera.
Ramon Santiago had an RBI single in the fourth and the Tigers then tied the game in the fifth on a solo homer by Cabrera.
Fernando Rodney (2-2) pitched a perfect ninth for the win while Danys Baez (2-3) allowed the walk-off homer in the ninth to take the loss, the Orioles’ fourth straight defeat and 13th in the last 17 games.
ATHLETICS 3, RANGERS 2
At Oakland, California, pinch-hitter Rajai Davis tripled down the right-field line to drive in two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning and lift the Oakland Athletics to victory over the Texas Rangers.
RAYS 10, ROYALS 4
At St Petersburg, Florida, Carl Crawford had three hits and three RBIs and to lead Tampa Bay past Kansas City. Crawford, who stole his league-leading 49th base, went 3 for 3 against Royals starter Zack Greinke after having just one hit in 16 previous at-bats against him.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, LOS ANGELES
Ryan Braun had a three-run homer among his four hits, and Milwaukee closer Trevor Hoffman got Manny Ramirez on a bases-loaded fly to right to finish the Brewers’ 6-5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League on Monday.
Manny Parra pitched eight outstanding innings, but Milwaukee nearly blew a four-run lead after he gave up two hits to open the ninth.
James Loney hit Hoffman’s first pitch for a two-run double, and Orlando Hudson drove him home to cut Milwaukee’s lead to a run.
After the Dodgers loaded the bases on a swinging bunt and a hit batsman, Ramirez could only manage the fly ball, keeping him without an RBI in 10 consecutive games.
Hoffman earned his 24th save despite giving up three hits and a run for the Brewers.
PADRES 4, BRAVES 2
At San Diego, Mat Latos pitched seven strong innings, and fellow rookie Will Venable drove in the go-ahead run and made a run-saving catch as San Diego downed Atlanta.
Also on Monday, it was:
• Cubs 4, Reds 2
• Astros 4, Giants 3
• Diamondbacks 6, Mets 5
• Nationals 8, Pirates 4
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