Carroll single lifts Tribe over Detroit

Two players from each side were ejected for fighting in the 6-5 victory.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Jamey Carroll hit a game-winning single with one out in the ninth inning to give the Cleveland Indians a 6-5 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night in a game that saw two players from both teams ejected for fighting.

Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera hit two two-run homers to tie Carlos Quentin of the Chicago White Sox for the AL lead with 36.

Cabrera’s second homer gave Detroit a 4-2 lead in the seventh. One out later, Indians starter Fausto Carmona hit Gary Sheffield in the left arm with a pitch. Detroit’s designated hitter walked slowly to first base, carrying his bat with him, glaring at Carmona and exchanging words with the right-hander.

Carmona threw to first on a pickoff attempt and Sheffield motioned and yelled at him. Carmona took a step toward first, yelled, and Sheffield charged at him and both threw punches. Carmona got Sheffield in a headlock and landed more punches as players and coaches from both dugouts and bullpens ran onto the field. No other punches appeared to be thrown — though Indians catcher Victor Martinez and Detroit second baseman Placido Polanco also were ejected.

On April 17, Carmona hit Sheffield with a pitch in a game that included five hit batters.

Kelly Shoppach was hit by a pitch from Freddy Dolsi (1-5) to start the ninth. Pinch-runner Josh Barfield went to third on pinch-hitter Ryan Garko’s one-out single off Gary Glover.

Carroll hit the first pitch over the head of right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Barfield walked home and Carroll was mobbed by teammates.

Cleveland’s Shin-Soo Choo hit two homers, including a three-run shot in the eighth that tied it at 5. He has seven homers in his last 18 games and 13 overall after missing the first two months while recovering from elbow surgery.

It was Cabrera’s 13th career multi-homer game and fourth this season.

Rafael Perez (4-3) struck out the only batter he faced for the win.

Choo’s two-out homer in the first put Cleveland ahead 1-0.

Cabrera made it 2-1 in the fourth. Curtis Granderson snapped an 0-for-15 streak with a double. Two outs later, Cabrera hit a 1-1 pitch from Carmona 428 feet into the stands in left.

After Choo’s homer, Tigers starter Armando Galarraga retired 14 of the next 15 hitters until Grady Sizemore hit his 33rd homer in the sixth to tie it at 2.