Indians Rally Late, Beat Tigers 4-3 In 10 innings
By NOAH TRISTER/AP Baseball Writer
DETROIT (AP) - Pinch-hitter Mark Reynolds hit a tiebreaking single in the 10th inning, and the Cleveland Indians beat the Detroit Tigers 4-3 on Sunday.
Cleveland tied it in the ninth when Michael Brantley hit a two-out RBI single off Detroit closer Jose Valverde. Joe Smith (1-0) pitched the bottom of the inning, and the Indians took the lead in the 10th.
With men on first and third and one out in the 10th, Michael Bourn hit a slow grounder to shortstop Jhonny Peralta, who threw home in time to get Asdrubal Cabrera trying to score. But Reynolds followed with a single to left off Darin Downs (0-1).
Rich Hill got the first two outs of the Detroit 10th, and Cody Allen finished for his first career save.
The Indians took two of three from the defending AL champions. Cleveland has not lost any of its last seven series.
The Tigers were prepared to let Valverde leave via free agency in the offseason, but they ended up bringing him back on a minor league deal. He was back in Detroit as the closer by the end of April, and he hadn't allowed a run in five appearances before Sunday.
But he walked two in the ninth before Brantley's tying single.
Detroit threatened in the bottom half when Andy Dirks led off with a single, but Torii Hunter couldn't get a bunt down and ended up hitting into a 1-6-3 double play - Cabrera had to spin awkwardly near second because of Smith's slightly inaccurate throw, but he made the turn successfully.
That meant Miguel Cabrera had to hit with the bases empty, and his flyout sent the game to extra innings.
Asdrubal Cabrera doubled leading off the 10th and went to third on Nick Swisher's tapper to the pitcher. After Carlos Santana was intentionally walked, the Tigers got a big out when Asdrubal Cabrera was thrown out at home.
But Reynolds singled to left past a diving Miguel Cabrera, and Santana scored from second.
Brayan Pena homered for the Tigers, and Detroit starter Rick Porcello allowed two runs and four hits. He struck out six and walked two.
Zach McAllister allowed two earned runs and eight hits in six innings for the Indians.
Pena's two-run homer in the second opened the scoring. The Indians tied it the following inning on a two-run double by Jason Kipnis.
Detroit scored an unearned run in the fourth after Cleveland third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall threw wildly to first on Peralta's groundball for a two-base error. Pena's grounder up the middle hit second base for an infield single, and Omar Infante drove in Peralta with a sacrifice fly.
The Tigers had a chance to add to their lead that inning, but with the bases loaded, McAllister got Miguel Cabrera to hit a popup and then struck out Prince Fielder to end the threat.
The Indians wasted chances of their own. Asdrubal Cabrera came up with the bases loaded and one out in the fifth and grounded into a double play. Cleveland started the seventh with a walk and a single off reliever Jose Ortega. Drew Stubbs failed to get a bunt down and struck out, and left-hander Phil Coke came on and got Brantley to bounce into a double play.
McAllister has held opponents to three or fewer earned runs in nine consecutive starts dating to last season. He allowed eight hits, struck out five and walked three Sunday.
