MLB capsules: 8th-inning grand slam lifts Tigers
The Detroit Tigers got 1 hit in the final four innings Sunday. That was all they needed.
Clete Thomas' eighth-inning grand slam - the first of his career - broke open a tie game after the Tigers (30-25) took advantage of a key error by first baseman Kendry Morales in a 9-6 victory over the Los Angeles Angels in Detroit.
"That's the situation that every kid dreams about," Thomas said. "You want to hit a grand slam to win a game. That's as good as it gets."
The Angels led 5-4 going into the bottom of the eighth, but Jose Arredondo (1-3) walked Ryan Raburn and Adam Everett with one out. Jason Bugler came on and walked Curtis Granderson, loading the bases.
Placido Polanco flied out to shallow center, and Raburn bluffed an attempt to score. Gary Matthews Jr. threw toward the plate but the ball was misplayed by the cutoff man, Morales, allowing Raburn to score the tying run.
"Raburn's a heck of a player and he's got good legs, so he drew that throw," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "That's how to make things happen."
Magglio Ordonez drew Detroit's ninth walk of the game, and the 15th overall, loading the bases again for Thomas.
"You aren't going to win any games when you walk nine guys," Scioscia said. "You have no chance."
Thomas then hit a 1-1 fastball over the visitors' bullpen in left.
"He threw me an outside fastball and I just wanted to hit it hard and get a run or two," Thomas said. "I didn't think it was high enough to get out, so I was running. I didn't realize it was gone until I rounded first and heard the crowd."
Rangers 6, Red Sox 3: Nelson Cruz homered and finished with 3 hits, helping visiting Texas beat Boston for the Rangers' first series win over the Red Sox in 12 years.
Yankees 4, Rays 3: Mariano Rivera bounced back from a poor outing against visiting Tampa Bay, and the New York Yankees played small ball to rally for 3 runs in the eighth inning.
Nick Swisher hit the 100th home run at the new Yankee Stadium, helping Joe Girardi earn his 200th win as a manager. Girardi is 200-183 in his third year as a manager.
Braves 8, Brewers 7: Chipper Jones had 4 hits, including 2 homers, and matched his career high with 5 RBI and host Atlanta rallied to defeat Milwaukee to prevent the Brewers from their first series sweep in Atlanta.
Rockies 7, Cardinals 2: Ubaldo Jimenez threw 8 innings of 4-hit ball, Paul Phillips drove in 3 runs and streaking Colorado beat host St. Louis. The Rockies have scored 38 runs in their first four-game winning streak of the year and are 6-4 under manager Jim Tracy after going 18-28 under Clint Hurdle.