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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
DETROIT (AP) -- Shane Halter did just about everything on a wild
final day of the season at Comerica Park.
|  | | Not a bad day at the office: Shane Halter played all nine positions on the field, went 4-for-5 and scored the winning run for Detroit on Sunday. |
Halter became the fourth major leaguer to play all nine
positions in a game, went 4-for-5 at the plate and capped his
adventure by scoring the winning run in the bottom of the ninth
inning to lift the Detroit Tigers over Minnesota 12-11 Sunday.
"You think about getting the opportunity to play all nine
positions. What's outstanding is to get the win on top of it _ at
home, come from behind," Halter said. "Some things happened today
that were awesome, and hopefully they can carry into next year and
we can continue the things we did the second half of the season."
Halter, who had done everything but pitch for the Tigers this
year, became the second person to play all nine positions in a game
this season. Texas' Scott Sheldon did it Sept. 6 against the
Chicago White Sox.
The only other players ever to do it were Bert Campaneris of the
Kansas City Athletics in 1965 and the Twins' Cesar Tovar in 1968.
"Until you've actually played the game and know how fast-paced
the game is and how many things you have to be aware of, you have
to admire the guys who have done this in the past because it's no
easy feat," Halter said.
Halter's position switches and the back-and-forth flow of the
game caused Detroit manager Phil Garner and Minnesota's Tom Kelly
to use 42 players combined, tying an AL record.
"I had the umpire (Jeff Nelson) so confused I could've done
anything I wanted," Garner said. "I was confused, too. But
actually it worked out perfectly, right down to the last guy."
Halter added three RBI and scored twice.
Dusty Allen hit a leadoff homer in the Tigers ninth off Eddie
Guardado (7-5) to tie it at 11. Halter followed with a drive that
just missed being a game-winning homer when it bounced off the left
field wall for a double.
"When I first hit the ball I thought I was going to hook it
around the foul pole and it was going to land in the camera well
for a home run," Halter said. "That would've been the topper of
all toppers there. But it ended up hitting off the wall, and to
score the winning run was just as good."
Todd Jones (2-4) retired the only batter he faced in the ninth
to win for the second straight day. He tied Boston's Derek Lowe,
with whom he also shared the AL saves lead with 42.
"For me it doesn't get any better than this on a personal
level," Jones said.
The Twins (69-93) lost five of their last six games in what
might have been Kelly's last season. He's supposed to meet with
team officials Tuesday to discuss his future.
"I'm going to get on a plane and play some cards. Next week I'm
going to golf. We'll take it from there," Kelly said. "I don't
know where I'll be when spring training opens next year. That's too
far in the future."
Halter changed positions at the start of the first eight
innings. He began the game at first base before moving to third
base, right field, center field, left field, shortstop, catcher and
pitcher.
Halter walked Matt LeCroy, the only batter he faced in the
eighth.
"I've never faced a position player as a pitcher, not even in
the minors," LeCroy said. "I was more nervous facing him than one
of their regular pitchers."
Halter finished the game at second base after walking LeCroy.
"Phil told me I was going to get one batter. I knew that going
in," Halter said.
Halter handled all five of his chances in the field, including a
double play he started in the eighth.
Garner toyed with the idea of starting Halter as the designated
hitter and then moving him around the field. No player has ever
filled 10 spots in a game.
But Garner abandoned the plan because he'd lose the DH once
Halter went in the field and didn't believe he had enough
pinch-hitters available to bat for pitchers.
As it was, Garner had just enough players.
"I don't ever want to make a travesty of the game under my
watch," Garner said. "But everybody started getting into it, the
fans, the players -- everybody."
Game
notes
Minnesota's Doug Mientkiewicz was 6-for-14 with four RBI
in the three-game series. He was recalled Friday after batting .414
for the gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic baseball team. ... Sunday's
crowd of 28,293 brought total attendance for Comerica Park's first
season to 2,533,752, second-best in Tigers history.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Minnesota Clubhouse
Detroit Clubhouse
RECAPS
Cleveland 11
Toronto 4
Detroit 12
Minnesota 11
Tampa Bay 3
Boston 2
Baltimore 7
NY Yankees 3
Kansas City 6
Chi. White Sox 2
Seattle 5
Anaheim 2
Oakland 3
Texas 0
Colorado 10
Atlanta 5
NY Mets 3
Montreal 2
St. Louis 6
Cincinnati 2
Florida 7
Philadelphia 5
Chicago Cubs 10
Pittsburgh 9
San Diego 4
Los Angeles 0
San Francisco 11
Arizona 4
Houston 6
Milwaukee 1
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