ekansekans's blog: "df"

CLEVELAND -- Anytime Justin Verlander is on the mound with a lead in the seventh inning, the Detroit Tigers can usually count on a victory. That pattern changed in stunning fashion Thursday night. Cleveland scored four times on six hits in the seventh inning against the reigning AL MVP and Cy Young winner to beat the Tigers 5-3 and knock them out of first place in the AL Central. Detroit dropped a half-game behind first-place Chicago. The Indians, who took two of three from the Tigers, are 3 1/2 games out. Verlander (11-6) took a 4-2 lead and a three-hitter into the seventh. Considering he came in with a 6-1 record in seven outings since June 14, there was every reason to believe the game was in good hands. Only this time it didnt happen and Verlander placed the blame directly on himself. "Horrible execution of pitches," he said. "Im extremely disappointed in myself for not going out there with a two-run lead in the seventh to shut the door and give us that W." Carlos Santana and Travis Hafner homered on the first two pitches in the inning to tie the game. Asdrubal Cabreras single put Cleveland ahead and Jason Kipnis followed with another run-scoring hit to put the Tigers down by two. Tigers manager Jim Leyland understands Verlanders late collapse will be met with shock and surprise. "For most people it is, but when youve been around long enough you know it happens to everybody," he said. "Tonight he just didnt close it down." Indians manager Manny Acta knew it didnt look good for his team facing a late deficit against the best pitcher in baseball. "Youve got to give it to the guys to come back against a guy like Verlander," he said. Santana slammed the first pitch of the seventh deep into the seats in right-centre for his eighth homer. Hafner hit a towering shot to the same area for his 10th of the year. Jose Lopez singled before Verlander got two quick outs. Shin-Soo Choo singled and Cabrera, 6-for-43 with 19 strikeouts lifetime against Verlander, grounded a single between first and second. Even though it appeared right fielder Brennan Boeschs throw had a chance to get Lopez at home, first baseman Prince Fielder cut the ball off as Choo took third and Cabrera scrambled to second. Kipnis, who had a sacrifice fly to tie it at 1 in the first, hit a soft liner that shortstop Ramon Santiago, couldnt hold onto and Choo scored for a 5-3 lead. "I threw pitches in homer-happy areas to lead off the inning and they hit em," Verlander said. "I didnt make a smart pitch to Lopez and then a couple of non hard-hit balls. I cant complain about the ones that werent hard hit. I put myself in that situation to begin with." Joe Smith (7-2) threw two pitches to get the win. He got Miguel Cabrera to ground into an inning-ending double play in the top half of the seventh. Vinnie Pestano pitched the eighth and Chris Perez the ninth for his 29th save in 31 chances. The Indians have won seven of nine from the Tigers with Perez saving each victory. He closed this one by fanning Quintin Berry with runners on first and third. Austin Jackson had three hits and Delmon Young homered for Detroit, which lost for only the fourth time in 18 games. Meanwhile, Verlander looked like vintage Verlander. After cruising through the second and third, he had to work out of a fourth-inning jam. The first two runnners reached base, but Verlander got Santana to bounce into a double play and retired Hafner on a ground out. He retired seven of nine going into the seventh and lost to Cleveland for the second time this season. It was the 63rd straight start in which Verlander worked at least six innings. He dropped to 40-12 over that span, which is the longest streak since Hall of Famer Steve Carltons 69-game run for Philadelphia from 1979-82. NOTES: Rain delayed the start 26 minutes. ... The Tigers open a three-game series Friday in Toronto. Detroits Rick Porcello faces Carlos Villanueva in a matchup of right-handers. ... The Tigers outrighted LHP Kelvin De La Cruz to Double-A Erie. He was designated for assignment Monday. ... Detroit went 6-for-32 (.188) with runners in scoring position in the series. 00:34ET 27-07-12 Andy Dalton Womens Jersey . Keselowski, a Sprint Cup Series regular, delivered team owner Roger Penske his maiden NASCAR win at this famed 2.5-mile racetrack. Penske has a record 15 victories in the Indianapolis 500. "Ive been watching races here for a long time as a kid from Michigan," Keselowski said. Andy Dalton Jersey .S. Open. The Blainville, Que., native lost 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 to No. http://www.officialcincinnatibengals.us/a-j-green-jerseys . Mike Morreale was elected to the post Wednesday at the unions annual general meeting in Barbados. A.J. Green Jersey .Detroit manager Jim Leyland knew pregame that Valderde would not be available, so he turned to veteran Octavio Dotel on Monday night with a 2-0 lead in the ninth inning. A.J. Green Youth Jersey . -- The Phenix du College Esther-Blondin are the only perfect team remaining at the Telus Cup national midget hockey championship after a 9-5 win over the Moncton Flyers on Wednesday. ATLANTA -- Brandon Crawford didnt have to be told the Giants had no available position players in the 11th inning when he fouled a ball off his right knee and collapsed to the ground. Crawford knew he had to remain in the game, and so he got up and hit the next pitch for a three-run homer to give San Francisco the lead in its 9-4 win over the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday night. Gregor Blanco added another three-run homer in the 11th as the Giants recovered after blowing a two-run lead in the 10th. Manager Bruce Bochy rushed to Crawfords side after the shortstop fouled the ball off his knee. Bochy knew it was crucial that Crawford remain in the game. "I was close to telling him that because we were out of players," Bochy said. No need. Crawford already knew the situation. "I was thinking about it a little bit when I was on the ground," Crawford said. Crawford said the pain went away quickly -- especially after the homer, only his second of the season and his first since April 12. "Its been a while since I hit a homer," Crawford said. "It felt pretty good." The NL West-leading Giants have won five straight, including the first two games of this series. Anthony Varvaro (1-1) hit Eli Whiteside with a pitch to open the 11th before walking Brandon Belt. Chad Durbin replaced Varvaro and struck out Joaquin Arias. The left-handed hitting Crawford pulled a cutter from Durbin into the seats in right. "I tried to run it in there closer to him instead of leaving it on the plate and it didnt quite get there," Durbin said. "It just wasnt in enough." The inning continued as third baseman Chipper Jones second throwing error of the game allowed Justin Christian to reach base. With two outs, Durbin issued an intentional walk to Melky Cabrera before giving up Blancos homer, also to right field, pushing the Giants lead to 9-3. Jones homered off Brad Penny in the 11th. The homer, Jones eighth, gave him 1,596 career RBIs, matching George Bretts record for third basemen. Asked if the landmark was bittersweet, Jones said "Bitter." Cabrera homered in the sixth and had a run-scoring single in the Giants two-run 10th inning to give San Francisco a 3-1 lead. The Giants were one out from the win when Brian McCann hit a tying two-run homer off Santiago Casilla (33-4) in the bottom of the 10th.dddddddddddd It was Casillas sixth blown save in 29 opportunities. Bochy said he will talk with pitching coach Dave Righetti and Casilla before deciding if he will change closers. "He was too good tonight to do that," Bochy said of Casilla. "We may have to change it up a little bit, but I dont want him to lose his confidence." Jones first error helped the Giants in the 10th. Arias hit a one-out triple off Varvaro, who then intentionally walked Crawford. Christian hit a soft grounder to third base which Jones fielded while running toward the plate. Jones tried to make an underhand toss to McCann at the plate but threw the ball high, allowing Arias to score. Crawford raced to third on the error. "Takes too much time to overhand it," Jones said. "Its one of those do or die plays. It turned out to be costly." Varvaro walked Ryan Theriot to load the bases before Cabreras bloop single drove in Crawford. Buster Posey, who had three hits for the second straight night, led off the ninth with a single to right off Braves closer Craig Kimbrel before Pablo Sandoval hit into a double play. Juan Franciscos homer in the third gave Atlanta a 1-0 lead. Cabrera tied the game in the sixth with his ninth homer. San Franciscos Ryan Vogelsong and Atlantas Mike Minor both lasted six innings and posted almost identical pitching lines. Vogelsong gave up four hits and one run with two walks and seven strikeouts. Minor gave up three hits and one run with two walks and seven strikeouts. Minor, who struck out the side in the third, retired San Franciscos first 12 hitters. Posey hit a leadoff double to right field in the fifth for the Giants first hit. The start of the game was delayed 1 hour, 16 minutes by rain. NOTES: The Giants placed C Hector Sanchez on the 15-day DL with a sprained left knee following an MRI on Wednesday. Whiteside was recalled from Triple-A Fresno and took over for Posey in the ninth. ... McCanns homer was the 150th of his career. ... LHP Jonny Venters (sore left elbow) may start a short rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday. The Braves want Venters to make at least two appearances with Gwinnett before he comes off the 15-day DL. ... The series ends Thursday with Braves RHP Tim Hudson facing Giants LHP Madison Bumgarner. ' ' '