Jurrjens one-hits Tribe as Tigers close gap, 2-1

DETROIT (AP) — 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 one 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.

First time in history

For the first time in franchise history, the Indians’ lone hit was a home run. The last time they had only one hit was April 15 in a 2-1 win over the Chicago 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 62⁄3 innings.

“For a young kid, he’s got a good arm,” Blake said.

Carmona does, too.

Retired first 12

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 three hits in eight innings. He struck out five and walked none.

Zumaya also was pretty good, pitching for the first time since May 1. He threw in the high 90s and retired the only batter he faced. He had been on the disabled list with a ruptured tendon in his right middle finger.

“It’s nice to see that name in the lineup card,” Leyland said. “I wanted to get him in and out. It was perfect.”

Fernando Rodney pitched a hitless eighth and Todd Jones worked a perfect ninth for his 32nd save in 37 chances.

The last time the Indians were part of a four-hit game was April 18, 1971, against the Washington Senators.