Tigers miss tag, fall to Seattle
7/13/2007SEATTLE - Adrian Beltre hit a two-run single and stayed alive on the basepaths long enough to allow the go-ahead run to score in a wacky sequence that sent the Seattle Mariners to a 3-2 victory over Detroit last night, ending the Tigers' five-game winning streak.
Seattle has won four straight to improve to a season-best 14 games over .500.
All-Star J.J. Putz got three outs for his 25th save.
Magglio Ordonez, the AL batting leader, drove in two runs and Gary Sheffield had three hits and stole two bases for the Tigers. Ordonez came to the plate in the ninth with the tying run at second and struck out to end the game.
The Tigers led 2-0 before Seattle scored three times in the fifth inning, culminating with Beltre's adventures on the basepaths.
After Jose Vidro singled for his third hit, Andrew Miller (4-3) walked Jose Guillen and Richie Sexson to load the bases with two outs. Beltre then singled sharply to drive in Vidro and Guillen, who scored when catcher Mike Rabelo dropped right fielder Ordonez's throw.
Rabelo, playing because all-star Ivan Rodriguez was ejected in the previous inning, then threw to second in an attempt to catch Beltre trying to advance. Second base umpire Bruce Froemming signaled safe twice as shortstop Carlos Guillen missed tags before and after Beltre slid through the bag. He tried to go back to second and Guillen missed again.
A chasing Guillen missed two more tag attempts as Beltre raced away to third base. During Beltre's successful dash, Sexson made it all the way around to score the go-ahead run.
Detroit manager Jim Leyland ran out to join Guillen to argue with Froemming. After that got nowhere, Leyland returned to the dugout and then ordered Miller to appeal the play back to second base. Froemming called Beltre out for never touching the bag, though television replays showed Beltre did touch the side and top of the base with his left hand during his initial headfirst slide.