Aaron Boone and Bobby Howry made throwing errors in the ninth inning, giving the host Minnesota Twins a 3-2 win over the Cleveland Indians on Saturday night.
Coco Crisp’s sacrifice fly tied the score in the top of the ninth following a leadoff double by Casey Blake off Joe Nathan (7-3), but the Twins won it in the bottom half.
Juan Castro led off the bottom of the inning with a bunt single to third off Howry (6-3) and advanced to second when Boone’s throw sailed past first baseman Jose Hernandez.
Nick Punto followed with another bunt down the third-base line. Howry picked it up, but his throw to first also was off the mark, allowing Castro to come home with the winning run.
Minnesota pulled within five games of the AL wild-card lead, while Cleveland lost for only the fourth time in its last 15 games and remained one game back.
Johan Santana and Nathan combined on a three-hitter, with Santana allowing one run and two hits in eight innings and striking out 10. He gave up Victor Martinez’s single in the fifth and Travis Hafner’s home run in the seventh.
Cleveland’s Kevin Millwood gave up two runs and nine hits in seven innings in another start in which he was given little run support. He was coming off a 2-1 loss to Toronto in which he threw a six-hitter.
Comerica on the mend
Damage to sod at Detroit’s Comerica Park from last week’s Rolling Stones concert is expected to be repaired in time for Monday’s Tigers game against the Cleveland Indians. About 22,500 square feet of sod are to be replaced.
– – –
SATURDAY’S GAMES
RESULTS, SYNOPSIS
New York 7 at Oakland 0
W: Small (6-0)
L: Saarloos (9-7)
Aaron Small 1st career shutout. Hideki Matsui got 100th RBI, joining Alex Rodriguez, Gary Sheffield. Last time 3 Yanks drove in 100 2 years in row (’36-37)–DiMaggio, Gehrig, Dickey.
Tampa Bay 3 at Toronto 2
W: McClung (6-8)
L: Batista (5-6)
S: Baez (32)
Travis Lee hit go-ahead 2-run homer in 9th inning to stop 5-game losing streak. Seth McClung allowed just 2 runs, 2 hits in 8 innings, struck out 6, walked 3. Blue Jays have won just 5 of last 15.
Baltimore 6 at Boston 7
W: Clement (13-3)
L: Bedard (6-6)
S: Timlin (6)
Kevin Millar, David Ortiz homered. Matt Clement pitched 8 strong innings for Boston, which won for 6th time in 7 games and maintained a 31/2-game lead over Yankees in East.
Texas 5 at Kansas City 3
W: Dominguez (3-3)
L: Carrasco (5-8)
Juan Dominguez took no-hit bid into 7th when Emil Brown got leadoff single. Dominguez wound up allowing 1 run, 2 hits in 7 1/3 innings. Adrian Gonzalez, David Dellucci homered for Texas.
Cleveland 2 at Minnesota 3
W: Nathan (7-3)
L: Howry (6-3)
Minnesota had just 1 hit in its last 19 at-bats with runners in scoring position before Justin Morneau hit 2-out RBI double in 6th inning and scored on Juan Castro’s single.
Seattle at 6 Los Angeles 3
W: Putz (5-5)
L: Shields (8-10)
Ichiro Suzuki drove in go-ahead run in 9th inning with his 3rd hit. Mariners scored 4 times in 9th. Raul Ibanez had 3 RBIs. Angels remained tied for 1st place in West with Oakland.
