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Guzman helps Devil Rays avoid series sweep

Aug 19, 2007 - 10:45 PM ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- Rookie Joel Guzman ended a long day at Tropicana Field on a positive note.

Guzman drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the 12th inning as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays avoided a weekend series sweep with a 4-3 victory over the Cleveland Indians in Sunday's finale.

Jonny Gomes delivered a leadoff double to left and came home on Guzman's pinch-hit RBI single off Indians reliever Rafael Perez (0-1). Guzman was just recalled from Class AAA Durham earlier.

"Got here (Sunday), I was excited to be there and get in the game," said Guzman, who entered in the 11th as a defensive replacement at shortstop. "Perez was pretty nasty with the slider, so I was just trying to make contact."

Gomes initially broke back toward second on Guzman's hit, so he thought he would be held at third.

"I was totally surprised I was waved home," Gomes said. "I thought I was going to have to go retro (Tampa Bay Buccaneers fullback Mike) Alstott at the plate."

In the 10th, All-Star Carl Crawford hit a two-out, run-scoring single off closer Joe Borowski as Tampa Bay tied the game at 3-3.

"We didn't do a good job coming through," Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said. "Tampa plays you tough. They have young, talented players. Our guys had opportunities to step up. They just didn't get it done."

Devil Rays reliever Scott Dohmann (2-0) tossed two scoreless frames for the win.

Tampa Bay starter James Shields gave up two runs and six hits with six strikeouts through six frames. The righthander has 20 strikeouts and only one walk in his last 20 innings.

"I really didn't feel good," Shields said. "My arm didn't really feel too good. I was controlling my changeup real well. That got me through a few hitters. I kept us in it and we ended up winning."

It was just the second win in the series in 16 tries for Tampa Bay, which cut the deficit to 2-1 on B.J. Upton's 17th homer in the fourth.

"That was a very interesting game," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "Both sides pitched really well. The home run by B.J. told us there was hope. (C.C.) Sabathia was throwing great."

Sabathia allowed two runs and three hits in eight innings, but did not receive the decision Sunday. The lefthanded All-Star was responsible for offering the game-tying homer to Carlos Pena in the seventh to tie the game at 2-2.

It was the sixth consecutive start that Sabathia has allowed two earned runs or fewer, but has only one win to show for it over this stretch.

"I could have did a few things different," Sabathia said. "I made a couple of bad pitches and it cost us the game. I want this team to win games and go to the playoffs. Every game counts and every game means something."

Victor Martinez opened the scoring with an RBI single in the first and Jhonny Peralta added a sacrifice fly in the fourth, giving the Indians a 2-0 advantage.

Despite the setback, Cleveland (68-55) still holds an 1 1/5 game edge over the Detroit Tigers (67-57) for first place in the America League Central standings. The Indians will travel to Motown for a three-game series on Tuesday.