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Hafner helps Indians crown Royals

Aug 26, 2007 - 11:18 PM KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) -- Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez had run-scoring singles in the 11th inning as the Cleveland Indians defeated the Kansas City Royals, 5-3, on Sunday.

With two outs in the frame, Hafner greeted Royals reliever John Bale with a single to center to plate Franklin Gutierrez. Martinez followed with a single to right, plating Grady Sizemore for an insurance run.

"I was trying to hit the ball hard," Hafner said. "A line drive. If I get a base hit there, it's a run. I just wanted to put together a good at-bat and hit the ball hard."

Ironically, it was Sizemore who extended the game to extra innings.

With the Royals leading 3-2 in the ninth, Sizemore came around to score on Asdrubal Cabrera's single to tie the game.

"We were just working hard to keep it at one run and give our guys a chance," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "We really had some guys step up late for us - Grady with a big knock and Asdrubal with a big knock to tie it up.

"We had to work at it and we had to work at it late. Gutierrez with a walk and Hafner with a knock that was huge. And Victor gets a big hit behind it to put us up by two runs. A lot of people stepped up today for us. It was late, but they got it done."

Joe Borowski retired the side in the 11th for his 37th save for Cleveland (72-57), which remained 2 1/2 games in front of Detroit (70-60) in the American League Central.

"It was kind of like a rollercoaster out there," Borowski said. "Fausto (Carmona) was throwing good out there with a 2-0 lead, and all of a sudden, it's 3-2 and not looking too good with nobody on and two outs in the ninth and before you know it, we tie it up. Those are the kinds of games that are going to propel you into the playoffs and get you ready for the playoff race."

Rafael Betancourt (3-0) pitched two hitless innings, striking out three for the Indians, who concluded their nine-game road trip with a 6-3 record.

"For me, I just wanted to keep it tied to give our guys a chance to take the lead," Betancourt said. "When I'm pitching, I don't care if I pitch one inning or two innings, I just want the chance for us to win the game."

Joel Peralta (1-3) took the loss after allowing one run and one hit in 1 1/3 innings.

"That's a tough loss when you get that close to win," Royals manager Buddy Bell said. "Our guys are not going to be perfect out of the bullpen."

"Their bullpen has been very good," Wedge said. "You know you've really go to grind it out to score a run, but that's what we did."

The Royals' three-run sixth inning was highlighted by Shane Costa's two-out single, which scored Emil Brown.

For Costa, who was recalled from Class AAA Omaha Wednesday, it was just his eighth RBI of the season. He finished the game with two hits for the Royals.

Brown had a two-run single earlier in the inning.

Cleveland opened the scoring in the second inning on Blake's two-out single to center that plated Ryan Garko. Blake scored on Cabrera's double play in the fifth inning to extend the Indians advantage to 2-0.

"When we were down with two outs in the ninth, it was looking pretty bleak," Blake said. "That was a huge win for us right there. To see Detroit win today, it was a big win for us. It was good for us to be able to come back against a good team and good pitching."