MLB
  Scores
  Schedules
  Standings
  Statistics
  Transactions
  Injuries: AL | NL
  Players
  Weekly Lineup
  Message Board
  Minor Leagues
  MLB Stat Search

Clubhouses

Sport Sections
  Sunday, Jun. 4 2:20pm ET
Detroit 3, Chicago 2
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME LOG

CHICAGO (AP) _ Shane Halter and the Detroit Tigers caught the Chicago Cubs by surprise.

Halter hit a bunt single with two outs in the 12th inning to score the game-winner as Detroit beat Chicago 3-2 on Sunday to improve to 4-1 against the Cubs in interleague play.

``I've told (third base coach Doug Mansolino) in the past, `You tell the guy on third base to be ready,''' Halter said. ``When I came out of the box, I gave him the high sign to be ready.''

Bobby Higginson walked to lead off the 12th against Todd Van Poppel (0-1), the first walk of the game. One out later, Higginson stole second, and advanced to third on a groundout.

With third baseman Willie Greene playing back, Halter dropped a bunt down the third-base line to score the first run off Van Poppel in 15 innings of relief.

``It was an opportune time and it turned out to be a great play,'' Tigers manager Phil Garner said. ``Shane was looking over at me and nodding. I nodded back.''

Cubs manager Don Baylor credited the Tigers.

``It was a good play on Halter's part,'' Baylor said. ``It was unexpected. You have no idea.''

Van Poppel took the loss hard.

``That bunt had nothing to do with it,'' he said. ``It was me walking the leadoff hitter. It's a tough way to lose but if I don't walk that guy, he doesn't score.''

Matt Anderson (3-0) pitched two hitless innings for the victory, and Todd Jones pitched the 12th for his 16th save in 17 chances.

Jon Lieber allowed two runs and five hits in nine innings, but got a no-decision. He walked none and struck out 10 for his second straight double-digit strikeout game.

``You've got to remember, it's part of the game,'' Lieber said. ``I know all the guys in this locker room are giving 100 percent.''

Lieber, who lost 1-0 to Greg Maddux and Atlanta in his last start, has allowed three runs and seven hits in his last 17 innings, but is 0-1 in the two starts.

Greene hit his sixth home run with two outs in the second off Tigers starter Brian Moehler to open the scoring.

Juan Gonzalez singled to lead off the fourth and Higginson followed with his sixth home run to make it 2-1.

Gonzalez, who had missed three games before this series because of a strained left foot, then left the game after fouling a ball off his foot. His status was day-to-day and the artificial turf at Pittsburgh, where the Tigers go next, won't help.

``It's disappointing for me, but if I'm hurting, I'm hurting,'' Gonzalez said.

With two on and two outs in the Cubs' fifth, Eric Young hit an RBI double to tie it at 2.

Moehler gave up two runs and six hits in six innings.

Notes: Cubs third baseman Shane Andrews will undergo back surgery to repair a herniated disc. Andrews, who has not played since May 15, will be sidelined a minimum of eight weeks. ... Bill Madlock, the former Cubs star who is Detroit's hitting coach sang ``Take Me Out to the Ballgame'' during the seventh-inning stretch.

 


ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard

Detroit Clubhouse

Chicago Cubs Clubhouse