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Guillen's walk-off homer sends Tigers to much-needed win

Aug 25, 2007 - 8:54 AM DETROIT (Ticker) -- Patience was a virtue on Friday for the Detroit Tigers.

Carlos Guillen belted a walk-off, three-run homer in the bottom of the 11th inning as the Tigers posted a 9-6 victory over the New York Yankees.

After having seen the start of the game delayed by over four hours due to rain and 12 runs cross the plate over the first five innings, each team's bullpen tossed five scoreless frames that pushed the contest well into the early morning.

"I haven't played one this late in my life," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said.

With two on and two outs, Guillen sent an off-speed, outside pitch from Yankees reliever Sean Henn (2-2) well into the left field stands to put an end to a game that ended over eight hours after it was scheduled to begin.

"(This is) the first time I hit one at 3:30 in the morning," Guillen said. "Long day for us."

It was the second of two late scoring chances for the slumping Tigers, who are just 17-25 since the All-Star break. In the bottom of the ninth with two outs, Detroit put two runners on for Sean Casey, but the pinch hitter flied out harmlessly to right to end the threat.

Chad Durbin (8-6) tossed a perfect 11th to notch the win for the Tigers, who moved to within 1 1/2 games of American League Central Division-leading Cleveland (70-57), which dropped a 2-1 decision earlier Friday to lowly Kansas City.

Neither starting pitcher was all that effective. New York's Roger Clemens lasted five frames, surrendering six runs and six hits. Counterpart Andrew Miller, who made his first start since August 3 due to a left hamstring strain, allowed six runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Alex Rodriguez belted his major league-leading 43rd homer of the season in the third inning and finished with two RBI for the Yankees (71-57), who fell 6 1/2 games behind AL East-leading Boston (78-51). The Red Sox swept a doubleheader earlier in the day against the Chicago White Sox.

"It's just tough to take a loss at 3-something in the morning," Rodriguez said.

The Yankees' Jorge Posada was ejected from the game in ninth after arguing a called third strike with plate umpire Bob Davidson.