Cleveland Indians: Santana's Slam Caps Incredible Victory

4-29-11     vs. Detroit     W, 9-5     17-8

     Carlos Santana smashed a walk-off grand slam, and the Indians completed an improbable comeback to defeat the rival Tigers, 9-5.

     A Miguel Cabrera 2-run homer helped Detroit grab an early 3-0 advantage.  However, Jeanmar Gomez, despite not having his best stuff, prevented the Tigers from pulling away.  Gomez pitched 5 2/3 innings, and he stranded 6 runners on base.  Gomez's ability to minimize damage would loom large as the game progressed toward its thrilling climax.

     Detroit's Max Scherzer was nearly unhittable through the 1st 5 frames, but he began to waver in the 6th.  After quickly recording 2 outs, Scherzer allowed an Asdrubal Cabrera single, and he also issued a pair of walks.  Scherzer's sudden lack of command resulted in Shelley Duncan's 2-run single that pulled the Tribe to within 1.

     Detroit, though, reclaimed the momentum in the 7th.  Jhonny Peralta hit a RBI single, and Alex Avila contributed a sacrifice fly.  Both runs were charged to the struggling Chad Durbin, a pitcher the Indians believed they could depend on prior to the season.

     Given a 3-run cushion once more, Scherzer went back to work in the bottom of the 7th.  Following a routine groundout, Matt LaPorta cranked a solo homer to the Home Run Porch.  Scherzer walked Grady Sizemore with 2 outs, and Detroit manager Jim Leyland walked to the mound.  It appeared as if Leyland would replace his starting pitcher, but the long-time skipper eventually decided otherwise.  Scherzer's next pitch was belted into the right field bleachers by Asdrubal Cabrera, and the game was deadlocked.

     The 5-5 score held until the bottom of the 9th.  The Tigers turned to their hard-throwing righty, Joaquin Benoit, in hopes of extending the contest.  The 1st batter Benoit faced, Jack Hannahan, singled to center, and the winning run was on base.  Adam Everett pinch-ran for Hannahan, and Everett sprinted to 3rd base on Grady Sizemore's single.  Benoit then intentionally walked Asdrubal Cabrera to set up a potential force at the plate.  Shin-Soo Choo was given the 1st chance to capitalize on the golden opportunity, but the native of South Korea struck out.  The strikeout proved meaningless because the very next hitter, Carlos Santana, launched a game-winning grand slam deep to right.  A wild celebration ensued as the 15,568 fans in attendance roared their approval.

Carlos Santana's grand slam capped the Tribe's dramatic rally