Indians beat Tigers, 4 are tossed

Indians hurler Fausto Carmona has Tigers outfielder Gary Sheffield in a headlock as the two go at it last night. The fireworks began after Carmona plunked Sheffield. He followed that up with a pickoff attempt. Sheffield jawed about it and charged the pitcher. Both benches then joined in.

CLEVELAND - Jamey Carroll hit a game-winning single with one out in the ninth inning to give the Cleveland Indians a 6-5 victory over the Detroit Tigers last night in a game marred by ejections of four players for fighting.

Detroit's Miguel Cabrera hit a pair of two-run homers to tie Carlos Quentin of the Chicago White Sox for the AL lead with 36.

Cabrera's second homer gave Detroit a 4-2 lead in the seventh. One out later, Indians starter Fausto Carmona hit Gary Sheffield on the left arm with a pitch. Detroit's designated hitter walked slowly to first base, carrying his bat with him, glaring at Carmona and exchanging words with the right-hander.

Carmona threw to first on a pickoff attempt, and Sheffield motioned and yelled at him. Carmona took a step toward first, yelled, and Sheffield charged him, and both threw punches. Carmona got Sheffield in a headlock and landed more punches as players and coaches from both dugouts and bullpens ran onto the field.

"He gestured," Sheffield said. "I was like, 'Throw the ball to home plate,' " Sheffield said. "He called me out. He gestured come on, and I'm coming. ... Just because he's upset somebody else hit a home run, don't take it out on me," Sheffield said. "Anytime you do that, we're going to have problems, before the game, after the game, whatever you want to do."

Indians catcher Victor Martinez and Detroit second baseman Placido Polanco also were ejected. Jeff Larish later ran for Sheffield and was caught stealing to end the inning.

Kelly Shoppach was hit by a pitch from Freddy Dolsi (1-5) to start the ninth. Pinch runner Josh Barfield went to third on pinch hitter Ryan Garko's one-out single off Gary Glover.

Carroll hit the first pitch over the head of right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Barfield walked home, and Carroll was mobbed by teammates.

Cleveland's Shin-Soo Choo hit two homers, including a three-run shot in the eighth that tied it at 5. He has seven homers in his last 18 games and 13 overall after missing the first two months while recovering from elbow surgery.

Rafael Perez (4-3) struck out the only batter he faced for the win. Choo's two-out homer in the first put Cleveland ahead 1-0.

Curtis Granderson snapped an 0-for-15 streak with a double. Two outs later, Cabrera hit a 1-1 pitch from Carmona 428 feet into the stands in left.

After Choo's homer, Tigers starter Armando Galarraga retired 14 of the next 15 hitters until Grady Sizemore hit his 33rd homer in the sixth to tie it at 2.