The Juice is back for its fifth season of fun! Stop by each weekday for an ample serving of news from the action, plus great photos, stats and video highlights.
Zenith and nadir: The Detroit Tigers might never experience a more exhilarating turnaround, and the Cleveland Indians probably won't ever feel any worse after a regular-season loss. Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run homer to cap a five-run comeback with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning, and the Tigers stunned the Indians 10-8, sending them to their ninth straight defeat. Cleveland had scored three times in the top of the inning, but closer Chris Perez had a full metal implosion as Detroit pecked away, with Omar Infante placing a tying single to set up Cabrera. Infante and Austin Jackson finished with four hits apiece. Travis Hafner hit a two-run homer to give the Indians the lead in the 10th.
Tragic Mike: Texas Rangers rookie Mike Olt will have better days in the majors. His throwing error on what looked like a double-play ball allowed Eric Hosmer to score the winning run in a 7-6 victory for the Royals. Olt had plenty of help, though. Working backward, two pitches earlier, another error by Alberto Gonzalez put runners at first and second. Pitcher Michael Kirkman had started the inning with a leadoff walk. The Rangers were quite charitable. Royals manager Ned Yost, understandably, said K.C. was "due" a win like that. Fair enough.
A.J. No. 1, step forward: Pirates' right-hander A.J. Burnett followed his one-hitter with a nearly complete-game effort in a 6-2 victory at Cincinnati. Burnett allowed two runs and three hits over 8 2/3 innings to help Pittsburgh avert a sweep. Starling Marte had a tie-breaking two-run triple for the Bucs, who are 4 1/2 games back in the NL Central.
A.J. No. 2, you're up: Where were these home runs all of his life? A.J. Pierzynski of the White Sox went deep for the fifth straight day to help beat the Angels 4-2 and take two of three in the series. Pierzynski hit a go-ahead two-run blast as a pinch hitter against Jason Isringhausen in the seventh. He extended his career high to 21 homers, but it cost him some goodwill with a young fan in the front row who didn't appreciate all of the accompanying noise and attention.
Hanley comes through: New Dodgers fellow Hanley Ramirez lined a game-ending single to subdue the Cubs 7-6. Note the beeline that Matt Kemp makes after he scored the winning run so he could partake in the Ramirez pummeling. That's how we show affection in Major League Baseball, with playful piling-on. The victory completed a three-game sweep of the Cubs, who made news regardless by calling up Brett Jackson and Josh Vitters, two of their top prospects.
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Quote of the Day:
"Hopefully it's the start of a long run." — Adrian Gonzalez of the Red Sox, who averted a four-game sweep at Minnesota with a 6-4 victory.
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Play of the Day: Yan can field
Yan Gomes of the Blue Jays begins a great game-ending double play against the A's in a 6-5 victory.
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Three Facts for the Water Cooler:
• Atlanta's Dan Uggla went 0 for 4 and is batting .209, though the Braves beat the Astros 6-1 in the finale of the Chipper Jones/Astros in the National League Era.
• The Baltimore Orioles beat the Tampa Bay Rays 1-0 in 10 innings for their 10th straight one-run victory and 11th straight extra-innings victory.
• Kyle Lohse of the Cardinals pitched six "spotless" innings, as the Associated Press put it, in a 3-0 victory against the Brewers. Lohse lowered his ERA to 2.79.
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