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Lofton's sacrifice fly lifts Indians over Mariners

Sep 26, 2007 - 7:18 AM By Paul Lowenberg PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SEATTLE (Ticker) -- Even some ninth-inning heroics couldn't prevent the Cleveland Indians from winning another game.

Adrian Beltre blasted a two-run, game-tying homer off Joe Borowski in the bottom of the ninth, but Kenny Lofton drove in the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly in the top of the 12th to lead the Indians to a 4-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday.

The victory moved the Indians (93-63) one-half game ahead of the Boston Red Sox (93-64) for the best record in the major leagues. The Indians, who clinched the American League Central Division on Sunday, have won eight of 10 and are 23-6 since August 25.

"Every game is important to us," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "We've got to get some guys in there who need to play to get them sharp for the playoffs, and also to give some guys some time off."

The loss also officially eliminated the Mariners from wild card contention in the American League.

Asdrubal Cabrera led off the 12th with a walk and moved to third on wild pickoff attempt by Ryan Rowland-Smith (1-1). Lofton followed with a fly ball to center field that was deep enough to score Cabrera from third.

"The kid (Cabrera), in the middle of everything, draws the leadoff walk, was aggressive in getting to third base (on Rowland-Smith's error), and Kenny Lofton did a heck of a job getting on top of the high fastball to get the ball to the outfield," Wedge said.

Tom Mastny (7-2) escaped a bases-loaded jam in the 11th when he struck out Nick Green on three pitches and earned the win. Rafael Betancourt pitched a perfect 12th to earn his third save.

"We battled back and tied it but we just couldn't push the winning run across," Mariners manager John McLaren said.

Victor Martinez put the Indians on the board early after Chris Gomez and Travis Hafner hit one-out singles in the top of the first inning off Seattle starter Felix Hernandez. Martinez blasted his 25th home run of the season over the center field fence to give the team a 3-0 lead.

The Mariners got a run back when Beltre hit a leadoff double in the fifth inning, took third on shortstop Jhonny Peralta's fielding error and scored when Kenji Johjima grounded into a double play, cutting the lead to 3-1.

Hernandez, who was 7-1 over his previous 11 starts, was seeking his fourth consecutive victory, and he pitched effectively after the first inning.

The righthander gave up just four hits after the first inning before leaving the game after the seventh. The 21-year-old righthander gave up eight hits in all with two strike outs and did not walk a batter.

"We tied the game, we gave it up and we lost," said Mariners outfielder Jose Guillen after his team lost in extra innings for just the second time this year. "It's as simple as that. It doesn't matter how you came back and tied it. We lost the game."

Cleveland rookie starter Aaron Laffey surrendered only one run in 5 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and two walks with three strikeouts.

Martinez, the Indians All-Star catcher, was forced to leave the game after the eighth inning when he fouled a ball off his right knee. He is listed as day-to-day with just a right knee contusion.