Indians retain 2½-game Central lead
The Cleveland Indians needed some two-out magic to take the Royals to extra innings. Two innings later, they did it again.
Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez singled home runs with two out in the 11th inning and the Indians rallied for a 5-3 victory over host Kansas City to remain 2½ games ahead of the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central.
The Indians almost didn't get to extra innings. Down to their final out in the ninth, Sizemore hit a 2-strike double off Royals closer Joakim Soria. Asdrubal Cabrera followed with a single to center to score Sizemore. Soria was charged with his fourth blown save in 18 opportunities. His previous blown save was May 20 at Colorado.
"When we were down going into the ninth with two out, it was looking pretty bleak," said Casey Blake, who had 2 hits and an RBI. "It was a huge win for us."
Indians manager Eric Wedge said the Indians have gotten used to playing to the last out.
"The game changed in a minute and a half," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "Asdrubal has given us a big boost. He's right in the middle of everything. We had to work at it late. We really had some guys to step up late. Grady with the big hit. Asdrubal with the big knock to tie it. Hafner coming up huge for the ballclub and huge for him."
Hafner's single off John Bale, the sixth Royals pitcher, scored Franklin Gutierrez, who led off the 11th with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Sizemore, who was hit by a Bale pitch, scored the second run of the inning on a Martinez single.
"I was trying to the hit the ball hard, knowing if I get a base hit that's a run," Hafner said.
Joel Peralta (1-3), the fifth Royals pitcher, walked Gutierrez and was charged with the loss.
Tigers 5, Yankees 4: Curtis Granderson led off the first inning with an inside-the-park homer, and host Detroit went oin to beat New York.
The Tigers have won two of three from the Yankees and can win their first series since mid-July with a victory to night. The Yankees fell 7½ games behind Boston in the AL East.
Rangers 5, Mariners 3: Sammy Sosa's 605th career home run was his first in a month, and Vicente Padilla allowed only 1 run pitching into the seventh inning, as host Texasbeat Seattle.
Angels 3, Blue Jays 1: Kelvim Escobar recorded his career-high 15th victory, Garret Anderson homered, and host Los Angeles beat Toronto to earn a split of the four-game series.
Escobar (15-6) won his fourth straight start, allowing 1 run and 5 hits over 8 innings with 5 strikeouts and no walks.
Twins 11, Orioles 3: Visiting Minnesota ended Erik Bedard's 9-game winning streak and completed a season's sweep of the Orioles, getting 2 triples and 2 RBI from Jason Bartlett.
Rondell White homered for the Twins, who finished 7-0 against Baltimore this year.
The Orioles have been outscored 70-20 during a six-game losing streak that began with a record 30-3 loss to Texas the day the team announced manager Dave Trembley would return in 2008.
Devil Rays 7, Athletics 4: Carlos Pena hit 2 homers, and Joel Guzman had a 2-run triple during a 3-run fifth inning as the Devil Rays beat all-star starter Dan Haren and visiting Oakland.