Tigers get combined 1-hitter from 4 pitchers
Comerica Park is a long way from Curacao.
Jair Jurrjens pitched comfortably for the Tigers in front of almost 43,000 fans Tuesday night -- as if everyone was behind him back home in the Dutch Caribbean islands.
Jurrjens allowed 1 hit in his second major-league start, and Detroit got consecutive homers from Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen to edge the Cleveland Indians 2-1 in the opener of a key three-game series.
"I'm going to remember this for the rest of my life," Jurrjens said.
The right-hander outpitched Fausto Carmona and carried a no-hit bid into the sixth inning until Jhonny Peralta homered with one out for Cleveland's only hit of the game.
For the first time in franchise history, the Indians' lone hit was a home run. The last time they had only 1 hit was April 15 in a 2-1 win over the White Sox.
When Tigers manager Jim Leyland came out of the dugout to replace Jurrjens, the pitcher puffed out his cheeks, exhaled and walked off the mound to a standing ovation.
"My phone is going to go crazy tonight," said Jurrjens, adding the game was televised in Curacao. "It's just a dream come true."
Joel Zumaya, just off the disabled list, and two other relievers helped Detroit hang on to pull within a half-game of the AL Central-leading Indians.
"That was a fun game to play in," Cleveland's Casey Blake said. "Every game from now on means something."
The 21-year-old Jurrjens (1-1) walked four and struck out one in 6¿ innings.
"For a young kid, he's got a good arm," Blake said.
Carmona does, too.
The 23-year-old right-hander, who beat Jurrjens in his big-league debut last week, retired his first 12 batters before Ordonez and Guillen homered to start the fifth.
"He could've thrown a no-hitter," Blake said. "They probably hit four balls hard and two of them were homers."
Ordonez went to the opposite field on an 0-1 pitch, driving the ball over the wall in right-center.
"For him to do what he did with that pitch was pretty special stuff," Indians manager Eric Wedge said.
Carmona (14-8) gave up only 3 hits in 8 innings. He struck out five and walked none.
Red Sox 8, Devil Rays 6: Coco Crisp and Julio Lugo had 2-run doubles during a 5-run fourth to help AL East-leading Boston past host Tampa Bay.
David Ortiz, who hit a rare triple, and Manny Ramirez had first-inning RBI as the Red Sox improved to 23-16 since the all-star break.
Jon Lester (2-0) allowed 5 runs and four hits over 5½ innings.
Mariners 7, Twins 2: Adrian Beltre and Richie Sexson hit consecutive home runs, Jarrod Washburn won for the first time in 7 starts, and visiting Seattle beat Minnesota for its fifth straight win.
Jose Vidro finished 3-for-5 and the wild card-leading Mariners pounded out 18 hits.
Orioles 6, Rangers 2: Erik Bedard struck out 11 over 7 innings to win his ninth straight decision, and host Orioles got home runs from Miguel Tejada and Aubrey Huff in the victory over Texas.
Bedard (13-4) increased his AL-leading strikeout total to 218, matching Mike Mussina's club record in 1997.
Athletics 6, Blue Jays 4: Dan Haren matched his career high in wins, Dan Johnson drove in 2 runs, and visiting Oakland beat Toronto.
Haren (14-4) allowed 3 homers but still snapped a 3-start winless streak. Frank Thomas homered twice for the Blue Jays, giving him 508 career homers.
National League
Cardinals 5, Marlins 2: Albert Pujols homered for the fourth straight game. and host St. Louis scored four times in the eighth inning to beat Florida.
Yadier Molina knocked in the tying run in the eighth, and Aaron Miles drove home the go-ahead run after St. Louis was aided by 2 crucial errors in the inning.
Mets 7, Padres 6: Carlos Beltran had 5 RBI, and Luis Castillo singled home the winning run off Trevor Hoffman in the ninth inning, helping host New York rally past San Diego in a matchup of playoff contenders.
Phillies 5, Dodgers 4: Aaron Rowand hit a go-ahead homer, and Kyle Kendrick remained unbeaten at home, as Philadelphia beat Los Angeles in the opener of a 10-game homestand.
Reds 8, Braves 7: Brandon Phillips hit a solo homer and a tiebreaking single in the sixth inning to lift host Cincinnati over Atlanta.
Nationals 11, Astros 6: Ryan Zimmerman hit a 2-run homer and had 4 RBI, and visiting Washington ended Wandy Rodriguez's recent dominance for Houston at Minute Maid Park.
Nook Logan had a career-high 5 hits for the Nationals.
Rockies 9, Pirates 2: Ian Stewart hit a third-inning grand slam in his ninth career at-bat,1 of a season-high 4 home runs for host Colorado against Pitsburgh.
Matt Holliday, Troy Tulowitzki and Brad Hawpe also went deep for the Rockies, who which closed to within 2½ games of NL wild-card leaders San Diego and Philadelphia.