DETROIT — Grady Sizemore is in the process of making his mark in Indians history.
Zach Jackson and Franklin Gutierrez are just looking to secure roster spots.
They all furthered those causes Monday night in front of 39,196 fans at Comerica Park.
Sizemore joined the 30/30 Club and homered twice, while Jackson produced the best of his three starts since coming to Cleveland. Those performances almost went for naught, but Gutierrez’s 10th-inning home run off Cleveland native Gary Glover proved to be the difference in the Tribe’s 4-3 win against Detroit.
Brendan Donnelly pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his first win since May 17 of last year, while Jensen Lewis gained his seventh save in as many chances as the team’s closer.
The Indians’ season-best eighth straight win pulls them within a half game of the Tigers for third place in the Central Division.
Sizemore became the second Indian to ever join the 30/30 club for home runs and stolen bases when he crushed the second pitch of the game for an opposite field solo shot. Joe Carter had 32 home runs and 31 steals in 1987.
“I was trying not to think about as I got closer to it, just kind of go day-by-day and not worry about it,” Sizemore said. “Now that I got there and it’s over with, I can take a step back and enjoy it.”
Sizemore’s 30/30 season is just the 14th in American League history and the 52nd overall. He’s the 32nd individual player to accomplish the feat.
The homer marked the 18th time Sizemore has led off a game with a home run in his career (which ties Kenny Lofton’s team record) and the seventh time he’s done it this season (increasing his own team record).
He wasn’t done in the first inning.
Sizemore picked out the first pitch of the third inning from Detroit starter Armando Galarraga and hammered it deep into the right field seats to put the Indians back in the lead, 2-1.
Sizemore, who has already set career highs in home runs (31) and stolen bases (34), now has a career high-tying 81 RBI.
With more than a month left in the season, 40/40 isn’t impossible.
“I’ll start with 32 and go from there,” he said.
In the fourth, Ryan Garko’s bloop single scored Shin-Soo Choo, putting the Tribe up, 3-1.
That looked as if it might be enough for Jackson, who came to Cleveland as part of the CC Sabathia deal.
Jackson, whose future could be as a starter or reliever, allowed a hit in six of seven innings, but was able to make the big pitch when needed.
He tied a career high with six strikeouts while not walking a batter and getting charged with three runs.
Wedge pointed out Jackson’s progression with each outing. Jackson agreed.
“It’s a game of adjustments,” the 6-foot-5 lefty said. “I’m gradually getting a better feel with my breaking stuff, my off speed pitches, being able to throw those and keep (hitters) off balance.”
Both runs he allowed came on home runs, one by Marcus Thames in the second inning and the other by Edgar Renteria in the fifth.
Up 3-2, Jackson left after Thames’ broken-bat single with one out in the seventh. Masa Kobayashi, making his first appearance in almost a week, quickly coughed up the lead on two well-struck infield singles. Rafael Perez replaced Kobayashi and got out of the inning without further damage.
Kobayashi hasn’t recorded an out in three of his last five appearances.
With one out in the 10th, Gutierrez hit an 0-1 fastball from Glover into the Tigers’ bullpen. It was his second game-winning hit in as many days and his second game-winning home run in the past week.
“That’s not something you look for,” Gutierrez said, adding that’s he never had consecutive game-winning hits in his life. “... I wasn’t looking to hit a homer. I was looking to get on base. He threw me a good pitch to hit and I hit it good.”
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Related Photos
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JHONNY PERALTA of the Indians watches his throw to first after getting a force on Curtis Granderson (28) of the Tigers on Monday night at Comerica Park. AP
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Discussion
Milestone reached as Tribe wins again
Sizemore joins 30-30 club; Indians earn 8th straight W
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