Tribe notes: Detroit’s Jones not happy with Shoppach’s HR antics

CLEVELAND — Not only did Kelly Shoppach equal a major league record with five extra-base hits Wednesday night, he also succeeded in ticking off Tigers reliever Todd Jones.
Shoppach’s display after hitting a two-run home run in the sixth inning of Detroit’s 14-12 win in 13 innings — a bat flip several feet in the direction of the visiting dugout — drew the ire of the right-hander, who was placed on the disabled list Wednesday with shoulder soreness.
Jones, a veteran of 14-plus big league seasons, made his feelings known shortly after allowing the long ball, yelling at Shoppach as he made his way to first base, then staring at Cleveland’s catcher while he circled the bases.
“I didn’t like it,” Jones told a Detroit newspaper. “I didn’t think it was very professional.”
After sleeping on it, Shoppach agreed with the pitcher, though Jones did throw a pitch high and inside during the at-bat.
“I got carried away,” he said. “It wasn’t intentional. I was excited. It was a big spot for us.”
Shoppach said he spoke with Tigers catcher Brandon Inge after Wednesday’s game. “Every now and then I’ve been known to flip a bat,” he said.
There was no chance for retaliation by the Tigers in the series finale Thursday with Shoppach out of the lineup after catching all of the five hours and 33 minutes the night before.

Cleaning up

Since being inserted into the fourth spot in the batting order June 22, shortstop Jhonny Peralta is batting .331 (43-for-130) with 16 doubles, six homers and 28 RBIs in 32 games. He has hit safely in 18 of his last 20 games, batting .337 (28-for-83) with five homers and 22 RBIs over the span.
Peralta produced an RBI double in his first at-bat in the opening inning Thursday then struck out in his next four trips to the plate.

Wounded Wahoos

Victor Martinez (right elbow surgery) will travel with the team on its nine-game (10-day) road trip, which begins tonight (8:10) with the start of a three-game series at Minnesota.
Martinez, who has been on the disabled list since June 12, began participating in baseball activities Monday and could return near the end of the month.
Wedge had no timetable on when the team would reschedule a strength test for Travis Hafner (right shoulder strain). Hafner, whose father recently passed on, has been in North Dakota with his family.      

Next up

Jeremy Sowers (1-5, 5.86) opens the series with Minnesota against RHP Nick Blackburn (7-6, 3.69), while Paul Byrd (5-10, 4.93) and RHP Kevin Slowey (7-7, 4.00) square off Saturday (7:10). RHP Matt Ginter (1-2, 4.20) is the scheduled starter in the series finale Sunday (2:10), the Twins countering with LHP Glen Perkins (8-3, 4.20).
The Indians are 4-8 against Minnesota this year, 1-5 at the Metrodome. 

Minor details

Triple-A Buffalo’s Jeff Weaver got the win despite allowing three homers in an 8-5 win at Durham on Wednesday. Weaver, who was signed to a minor league contract after being released by the Brewers in mid-June, allowed four runs on seven hits over six innings and owns a 2-2 record and 7.20 ERA in four starts for the Bisons. Sandusky-born Bellevue grad Brad Snyder drove in four runs and came a single shy of the cycle in the Buffalo victory.
Single-A Lake County RHP Rob Bryson was placed on the disabled list with a right shoulder strain and is expected to miss the next several weeks. Bryson was acquired in the CC Sabathia trade.
Cleveland’s first-round draft choice this year, shortstop Lonnie Chisenhall, entered Thursday batting .256 with three homers and 23 RBIs in 37 games for Class A Mahoning Valley.      

Roundin’ third

Grady Sizemore stole his 27th base in the eighth inning. He has been successful in 20 of his last 22 attempts.
 Shoppach is the sixth player in MLB history to collect five extra-base hits in a single game, but the first catcher to accomplish the feat.
The Indians have homered in 23 of their last 26 games.
Backup catcher Sal Fasano has driven in a run in each of his last three games, going 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs Thursday.
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.



Print this story
Report an inappropriate comment


In order to comment, you must agree to our user agreement and discussion guidelines.

Need help? Email Us.