Inge's HR in bottom of 9th lifts Tigers
Brandon Inge #15 of the Detroit Tigers is congratulated by Miguel Cabrera #24 after hitting a walk off home run during a game against the Texas Rangers at Comerica Park. (April 13, 2011) Credit: Getty Images
Brandon Inge rounded third base, tossed his helmet joyfully in the air and then did a little spin as he jumped into a big group of teammates at the plate.
After a shaky start the season, the Detroit Tigers finally won a series -- against the defending American League champions.
Inge hit a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth and the Tigers beat the Texas Rangers in their last at-bat for the second straight day, 3-2, Wednesday.
Inge hit the first pitch from Darren Oliver (1-1) with one out to leftfield. "Maybe this can jump-start us and get us going," Inge said.
Texas played its first game since Josh Hamilton broke his arm. The AL MVP could miss two months after getting hurt Tuesday, when Detroit won, 5-4, on an RBI single in the ninth by Miguel Cabrera.
Blue Jays 8, Mariners 3: Jose Bautista hit a three-run homer off reliever Chris Ray, part of a six-run eighth inning, and visiting Toronto avoided a three-game sweep.
It was Bautista's third homer of the season and snapped a 17-inning scoreless streak by Seattle's bullpen. Toronto sent 11 batters to the plate in the inning.
Athletics 7, White Sox 4: Coco Crisp hit a go-ahead single in a three-run 10th inning as visiting Oakland feasted on Chicago's bullpen. Crisp entered the game during a three-run ninth as a pinch runner and was in a 3-for-22 slump before singling off Matt Thornton (0-2). The struggling White Sox closer had walked Conor Jackson and Josh Willingham to set up Crisp.
Cliff Pennington's two-out, two-run, bases-loaded single in the ninth off Thornton tied it at 4. Former Yankee Hideki Matsui homered for Oakland.
Royals 10, Twins 5: Mike Aviles doubled twice and drove in three runs as visiting Kansas City became the latest team to tag Francisco Liriano (0-3). Aviles ended an 0-for-18 slide and Alex Gordon added two hits and drove in two runs. The Royals scored six times in the fourth inning to break it open.
Marlins 5, Braves 1: Josh Johnson (2-0) carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning to lead visiting Florida. Chipper Jones hit his first homer of the season in the ninth, giving the Atlanta switch hitter 1,500 RBIs for his career. Jones became the third switch hitter with 1,500 RBIs, joining Eddie Murray (1,917) and Mickey Mantle (1,509). -- AP
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