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Blake's second walk-off homer in four days lifts Indians

Sep 18, 2007 - 4:23 AM By Todd Krepop PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Jim Leyland's Detroit Tigers were four outs away from perhaps not being such a long shot after all. But then Jhonny Peralta and Casey Blake struck.

Peralta hit a two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning and Blake hit his second walk-off homer in four days to lift the Cleveland Indians to a 6-5 victory over the demoralized Tigers on Monday.

It was just the latest improbable victory for the Indians this season. Cleveland has now won 40 games in which they have trailed, including 10 walk-off wins.

"This symbolizes the way our year has gone," Indians starter Paul Byrd said. "Just when you think we are done, something miraculous happens. We won a game we probably shouldn't have.

It was the second walk-off home run for the Indians third baseman in four nights. Blake's ninth-inning blast on Friday beat the Kansas City Royals, 5-4.

"He's had some really big hits late in ballgames," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "He's a fantastic baseball player."

After Rafael Betancourt (5-1) pitched two scoreless innings Monday, Blake hit a 1-2 breaking ball from Zach Miner (3-4) over the fence in left-center field sending Jacobs Field into a state of pandemonium.

"It's probably the biggest game we have played all year," Blake said. "What a great team win."

Before the game on Monday, Leyland told reporters that his team was a "huge, huge, long shot" to win the American League Central despite cutting a seven-game lead to 4 1/2 games entering this one, largely on the heels of a five-game winning streak.

"We still have 11 games left," Miner said. "We were dead and buried five days ago and got five wins. We played good tonight and could have made it six."

However the loss dropped Detroit (83-68) 5 1/2 games back of Cleveland (88-62) in the division and 3 1/2 of the New York Yankees (85-64) in the wild card race.

"We were six outs away from a win and being 3 1/2 out," Leyland said. "We're down, but we had a good chance to win. Now we have to bust our butts the next two games.

Despite having the advantage of knowing, no matter what the outcome of the series, they would still be in first place, the Indians still felt a sense of urgency.

"First, second, and third (games), we need them all," Blake said. "But to lose the first game would have been tough. That's why it was such a big win."

Cleveland managed to overcome a 1-for-9 night with runners in scoring position and two errors.

"This time of year you can throw everything out the window except wins and losses," Wedge said.

After a season-high seven innings, Kenny Rogers looked like he was on his way to ending a five-start winless skid after allowing two runs and five hits.

But Peralta, who had homered earlier in the game, hit a two-out, two-run homer off of flamethrower Joel Zumaya in the eighth to tie the game up at 5-5.

"I was looking for a fastball," Peralta said. "(Zumaya) almost always throws a fastball. I was looking for a fastball away and that's what I got."

It was the second career two-homer game for Peralta and fourth of his career.

"Jhonny had a huge night for us," Wedge said. "Jhonny was the reason we were able to play extra innings."

"We would have never been in the spot (to win) if not for Jhonny Peralta," Blake said. Detroit took control of a 2-1 game with a three-run fourth to increase their lead. Byrd allowed five runs - four earned - on 10 hits in 7 1/3 innings, but he and three relievers combined to hold the Tigers scoreless over the final seven innings.

The loss was the latest setback Detroit has suffered against Cleveland this season. Cleveland has won 10 of the 16 games against Detroit, including the last three in a row.

"Whether they do it at the start or the end, they get it done," Rogers said. "That's the sign of a good team. They are tough, especially at home."