Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Associated Press
CLEVELAND — Edwin Jackson wouldn’t allow the AL Central to get any tighter.
Detroit’s steady starter pitched seven shutout innings and remained unbeaten against Cleveland this season, and the first-place Tigers kept their slender lead over Minnesota with a 3-1 win over the staggering Indians, who dropped their ninth straight on Tuesday night.
In losing nine of 13, the Tigers let a season-high, seven-game lead on Sept. 6 slip to two over the Twins last weekend. But with their second straight win, they stayed at least 21‚Ñ2 games ahead of Minnesota, which played at Chicago.
Ryan Raburn homered in the third off Aaron Laffey (7-7) and the Tigers tacked on two runs in the eighth off reliever Chris Perez.
Jackson (13-7) improved to 4-0 in five starts against Cleveland. The right-hander gave up seven hits and got out of jams in the fifth and sixth with inning-ending double plays.
The Indians closed within 3-1 in the eighth off Detroit relievers Bobby Seay and Brandon Lyon, who gave up a bases-loaded walk to pinch-hitter Jamey Carroll before striking out Luis Valbuena to crush the threat. Fernando Rodney pitched the ninth for his 34th save in 35 tries.
Leading 1-0 on Rayburn’s homer, Detroit tacked on two big runs in the eighth. After Perez walked two to open the inning, Miguel Cabrera hit an RBI double and Marcus Thames delivered a sacrifice fly.
Reds 10. Pirates 4
PITTSBURGH — Scott Rolen had three hits and three RBIs, Joey Votto had three doubles and scored three runs and the Cincinnati Reds beat Pittsburgh, clinching the Pirates’ third straight last-place finish in the NL Central.
Pittsburgh (56-93) lost for the 21st time in 24 games, the Pirates’ worst stretch since they lost 24 of 28 from July 13-Aug. 15, 1985.
Andrew McCutchen homered and had two RBIs and Garrett Jones and Lastings Milledge had three hits each for Pittsburgh, which has lost four straight, seven of eight and 12 of 14.
Johnny Gomes and Ramon Hernandez both went 2 for 4 for the Reds, who have won six of eight. All eight Cincinnati starting position players had at least one hit.
Johnny Cueto (10-10) allowed two runs and nine hits in five innings to win his second consecutive decision following a six-game losing streak.
Cincinnati got all the scoring it would need during a five-run fifth against starter Zach Duke.