NEW YORK, 18 May 2006 — Chris Shelton had a three-run double in a five-run third inning to help the Detroit Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins 7-4 and notch up their fifth straight American League win on Tuesday.
Ivan Rodriguez had two hits and drove in a pair of runs for the Tigers, who moved into a first place tie with World Series champions the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central.
Nate Robertson pitched five solid innings for the win and four relievers finished up the 10-hitter, including Todd Jones who pitched a scoreless ninth for his 10th save.
Robertson (4-2) allowed three runs on seven hits with one strikeout and three walks as the Tigers won five straight games for the fourth time this season under new manager Jim Leyland, one more than in three years under Alan Trammell. Detroit and Chicago have identical 25-13 records, the best in the major leagues, but Leyland is not getting too excited.
“It means absolutely nothing,” Leyland told reporters. “If we’re in first place after the last game of the season, that will be big. It’s a good start, it’s nothing more than that.” Carlos Guillen also had two hits and drove in a run for Detroit, while Craig Monroe had two hits and scored a pair of runs.
Kyle Lohse (2-4) allowed five runs on six hits over 2 2/3 innings and took the loss, with all five runs coming in the fifth inning. He struck out three and walked one.
In St. Petersburg, Carl Crawford and Jonny Gomes drove in three runs each with a pair of hits to lift the Tampa Bay Devil Rays past the White Sox 10-7.
Ty Wigginton and Toby Hall homered for the Devil Rays (16-23), while Joey Gathright had two hits, scored twice and drove in a run.
Phillies Bow to Brewers
After Franklin Error
Milwaukee’s Bill Hall capitalized on an error by Philadelphia pitcher Ryan Franklin to score the game winning run in the bottom of the ninth, giving the Brewers a 3-2 win over the Phillies on Tuesday. Damian Miller bunted down the third base side of the mound and Franklin fielded but threw wildly to David Bell at third, allowing Hall to scamper home for the winning run.
The come from behind win was the Brewers’ 13th of the season, with 12 of those comeback victories coming at home. Milwaukee (20-19) moved back over the .500 mark with the win, while the Phillies lost for just the second time in the last 15 games and stay second in the NL East behind the New York Mets.
In Houston, Omar Vizquel drove in four runs and Pedro Feliz homered, had three hits and scored three runs as the Astros beat the San Francisco Giants 14-3. Mike Matheny had three hits and two RBI for the Giants and Barry Bonds went 2-for-4 but again did not hit a home run for the eighth straight game.
