• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Martinez's home run lifts Indians over Nationals

Jun 24, 2007 - 5:04 AM WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Victor Martinez's three-run homer in the ninth inning gave the Cleveland Indians a 4-3 victory over the Washington Nationals in interleague play Saturday night.

The real drama, however, came in the bottom of the ninth when the Nationals loaded the bases with one out.

The game ended on Felipe Lopez's comebacker to righthander Joe Borowski, who got Brian Schneider on a force play at home plate for the second out.

Indians catcher Kelly Shoppach alertly threw to third and nailed a wide-rounding Nook Logan to complete a 1-2-5 double play that sealed Borowski's 21st save in 23 chances.

"Joe made a good play on that ball just getting it back," Shoppach said. "The ball was hit softly enough that he had to make a really nice play. ... I think Logan just anticipated that we were going to go to first base (for the third out) and overran third base. I was really shocked.

"I came off the plate after getting the one out and looked around and he was out there available to throw to third on. I was like, 'Whoa!' That was one of wackiest plays I've ever seen to end a game. It definitely was pretty wild."

Logan thought Shoppach would throw to first, but Lopez was too far down the first base line for Shoppach to gamble on making that play.

"I was anticipating a throw to first," Logan said. "I was full-speed, being aggressive. One time I was not being aggressive probably cost us the ballgame, this time I was being aggressive and it probably cost us the ballgame.

"I was trying to do something to help the ballclub win and was a little overaggressive and got caught."

Martinez's 14th homer of the season scored Franklin Gutierrez and Casey Blake, who both singled to left against Nationals closer Chad Cordero (1-2), who gave up three runs on three hits in the ninth.

"I went up there and looked for a fastball and he gave me one, and man, I made sure I put a good swing on the ball," Gutierrez said. "I didn't try to get too big or anything, just put a good swing on the ball. Thinking like that, I might be a little too long in my swing."

The blown save was Cordero's second in his past 10 save opportunities.

"This was a really tough one," Cordero said. "(Starter Matt) Chico battled so hard throughout the whole game and the bullpen did a good job and everybody else did a good job, and we went out there and got the hits when we needed it. Then for me to give up three straight base hits. It's a tough thing to swallow."

Tom Mastny (5-2) pitched a scoreless inning as the Indians tied the weekend series at one game apiece at RFK Stadium.

The Nationals manufactured a run and took a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning. Lopez led off with a single to right and stole second for his eighth steal of the season.

Dmitri Young followed with an RBI single to right that extended his hitting streak to seven games. Young, who has more career hits (91), homers (17) and RBI (62) against the Indians than any other team, has hit safely in 16 of his past 17 games.

The Nationals added a run in the seventh when Brandon Watson and Cristian Guzman both singled to right against Indians starter Paul Byrd. Watson eventually scored on a wild pitch by Indians reliever Rafael Perez for a 3-1 lead.

Washington lefthander Matt Chico walked Jhonny Peralta to begin the seventh and was relieved by Jesus Colome, who induced pinch hitter Trot Nixon into a 4-6-3 double play.

Colome got Shoppach to pop out to center fielder Watson, who had two hits for the second straight game.

Chico allowed one run on four hits in six innings of work. He struck out three and walked three.

Byrd allowed three earned runs on seven hits in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out four and walked one.

The Indians visited soldiers who were wounded in Iraq earlier Saturday at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda. They were particularly inspired by one soldier.

"He had taken a bullet from a sniper to the temple - shot him right in the head - and he lived," Byrd said. "He was in good spirits and we said, 'We'll try and win one for you tonight.'

"And he said: 'Don't worry, it's a done deal. You've just shaken the hand of a lucky, lucky man. I got shot in the head and I lived.' "

Byrd was quick to mention the meeting earlier in the day to Martinez.

"I reminded Victor, 'Hey, Vic, I don't know if you remember what that private said, that it was already a done deal because you shook the hand of a lucky man,' " Byrd said. "And as soon as he hit it, it was way more than coincidence. I thought it was a nice way to see Vic do that just because of that situation.

"His words came true."