|
|
MLB |
Scores Schedules Standings Statistics Transactions Injuries: AL | NL Players Weekly Lineup Message Board Minor Leagues MLB Stat Search Clubhouses |
Sport Sections |
|
|
Tuesday, May 23 7:05pm ET
Streaking Tigers pummel Colon, Indians | |||||
| ||||||
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME LOG
DETROIT (AP) -- Bobby Higginson felt his swing coming around. Everything finally fell into place Tuesday night. Higginson and Dean Palmer keyed a six-run Detroit fifth with consecutive home runs, leading the Tigers to a 10-4 victory over the Cleveland Indians.
"Tonight, I was very quiet at the plate. I had a nice, smooth swing. When I'm hitting good, that's how it is. It's almost effortless." It was an especially sweet victory for the struggling Tigers because it came against Bartolo Colon (4-2) who dominated Detroit, striking out 12 in seven innings during a 7-2 win May 17 in Cleveland. "That was the big story tonight," Detroit manager Phil Garner said. "He shut us down over there. But, we weren't cowed." Colon, matching his worst totals of the season, lost for the first time in three starts since coming back May 12 following a muscle strain. Colon was tagged for six runs and nine hits in 4 1/3 innings. "It seemed like Colon couldn't get in a rhythm," Indians manager Charlie Manuel said. "He had some trouble getting the ball over the plate. Then, when Higginson and Palmer hit those home runs off of him, that was it. It was just kind of an off night for him." Alex Ramirez homered for the Indians, who have hit home runs in 14 straight games and were coming off a 7-2 homestand. Willie Blair (2-0) relieved starter C.J. Nitkowski and gave up one run and three hits in 3 2/3 innings. Colon issued successive walks to Higginson and Palmer in the second and paid for it when Jose Macias hit a two-out smash back to the mound that bounced off the heel of Colon's glove for an RBI single. Detroit took a 3-0 lead in the third after Higginson, who finished with four RBI, hit a two-run double over Kenny Lofton in center that drove in Gregg Jefferies and Juan Gonzalez, who both had singled with two outs. "The big thing was they were swinging the bats real well tonight," said Enrique Wilson, who had two hits, including an RBI double in the ninth. "I give lots of credit to them. They were prepared for Bartolo tonight." Cleveland got one back in the fourth when Roberto Alomar, who had singled, scored on Jim Thome's double-play grounder. The Indians closed to 3-2 in the fifth when Wilson singled up the middle past Nitkowski, scoring Ramirez, who had reached on an error. Detroit broke it open with six runs and seven hits in the fifth, sending 10 men to the plate. Higginson's homer, a towering blow over the scoreboard in right-center following a single by Gonzalez, gave Detroit a 5-2 lead. Palmer followed with another shot to right-center, and Jim Brower relieved Colon. "Colon is one of the best pitchers in the business," Palmer said. "Tonight, we laid off the high fastball. He gets a lot of guys out on that. It's a tough pitch to lay off of." Brower gave up a run on a walk and three singles without getting an out and was relieved by Tom Martin with bases loaded. Ramirez made it 9-3 with his second homer, a two-out solo shot in the sixth. Jefferies had an RBI double in the seventh. Nitkowski gave up two runs and six hits in 4 1/3 innings.
Game notes | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard Cleveland Clubhouse Detroit Clubhouse RECAPS Baltimore 4 Seattle 2
Detroit 10
|