7864
by J.R.
Carlos Santana's RBI single caps two-run rally as Cleveland Indians top Seattle in 11 innings, 6-5
Published: Thursday, May 17, 2012, 4:15 PM Updated: Thursday, May 17, 2012, 7:21 PM
By Paul Hoynes, The Plain Dealer
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Jose Lopez watched the flight of the baseball so closely that he missed stepping on first base. Heroic home runs are not born of such things, but never fear -- Lopez knew he'd missed the bag.
So did first-base coach Tom Wiedenbauer, who was screaming for him to return. Lopez did, as soon as he saw his game-tying three-run homer barely make it over the 19-foot left-field wall in the eighth inning Thursday at Progressive Field.
"So happy," is how Lopez described the moment.
He grew happier still when Carlos Santana singled him home with one out in the 11th to give the Indians a 6-5 victory over Seattle. The Indians have won four straight and lead the AL Central by four games over Detroit. The road-weary Mariners, just completing the third leg of a four-city, 10-game trip, are 1-6 on the journey.
Lopez opened the season with the Indians, but was taken off the roster May 1 when Johnny Damon joined the club. Lopez cleared waivers and was outrighted to Class AAA Columbus where all he did was hit .522 (12-for-23) in six games. When the Indians optioned infielder Jason Donald to Columbus last weekend in Boston, Lopez rejoined the team.
In his first three at-bats Thursday, Lopez went 0-for-3 and stranded six runners. When he came to the plate in the eighth, Santana was on third, Casey Kotchman on second and Seattle had a 4-1 lead.
"The count was 2-0 with two guys on base," said Lopez. "I was looking for a fastball where I could tie the game. I was trying to do the same thing in my first two at-bats. So I went 1-for-3."
Lopez made his fourth straight start at third base Thursday as Jack Hannahan continues to deal with a stiff lower back.
The Indians' final rally came against closer Brandon League, who has a great arm, but can't beat the Tribe. They've beat him four times in the last two years, all in dramatic fashion. In his career, League is 2-for-7 in save situations against Cleveland.
Michael Saunders gave Seattle a 5-4 lead in the 11th with a double off Joe Smith (4-1). Eric Wedge called for League to save the game, but things went wrong in a hurry. Lopez drew a leadoff walk and League wild-pitched him to second. Shin-Soo Choo struck out, but Jason Kipnis walked. Asdrubal Cabrera, hitting .367 (12-for-33) with runners in scoring position, singled to right to tie the score.
"I just couldn't throw strikes," said League.
Aaron Cunningham, pinch-hitting for Travis Hafner -- who left the game after getting hit by a pitch on his right hand in the ninth inning -- walked to load the bases. Santana came to the plate, worked the count full, and then sent a single through the middle to win it.
Acta said Hafner's hand was not serious. "It's a soft-tissue bruise," said Acta. "The trainer didn't even send him for X-rays."
The Indians had lost five straight extra-inning home games going back to 2011. They are 1-4 in extras at home this year and 2-4 overall.
Santana's teammates mobbed him at first base.
"I was getting hit everywhere," said Santana. "I don't care. I'm so happy, so excited. If I have the opportunity to do the same thing, I don't care if I get hurt."
League saved 37 games last year. Against the Indians, however, he's become the present-day Troy Percival, a respected closer for the Angels in the mid- to late-1990s who was also tortured by the Tribe.
"You don't see that very often against closers," said Acta. "The fact that we've done it a few times again him gives the guys confidence."
Zach McAllister walked one batter in his first two starts with the Indians. He walked five in 5 2/3 innings Thursday. When Acta went to the bullpen, the Mariners had a 3-0 lead behind the strong starting pitching of Hector Noesi. They led 4-0 with two out in the seventh before Cabrera started the Tribe's comeback with an RBI single.
Indians relievers allowed one run in 5 1/3 innings after McAllister left.
