Shelton hits another homer as Tigers win

Chris Shelton keeps saying he’s not a home-run hitter, even though he leads the major leagues.

Shelton’s eighth home run backed Mike Maroth and led the Detroit Tigers over the Cleveland Indians 1-0 Sunday.

“I just put a good swing on it. I can’t really tell you why it went out of the ballpark, but it did,” said Shelton. “I wasn’t trying to go up there and hit a home run, I was just trying to hit it hard.”

Shelton is the first A.L. player to hit eight homers in his team’s first 12 games, according to historian David Vincent and the Elias Sports Bureau.

Shelton homered over the left-center field fence and into the Cleveland bullpen against Cliff Lee (1-1) with one out in the fourth inning. Five of Shelton’s homers have been solo shots.

“It wasn’t that bad of a pitch,” Lee said of the cutter. “It wasn’t exactly where I wanted it. He’s seeing the ball good and making solid contact.”

Maroth (2-0) allowed three hits in seven innings, struck out five and walked two. Maroth’s start had been pushed back three days because of elbow soreness. He said the elbow felt fine but was a little tender late in the game.

“He just kept the ball down, did a good job, made his pitches,” said Cleveland’s Grady Sizemore, who went 0 for 2 with a walk against Maroth. “We didn’t do a good job making adjustments, so we helped him out a little bit.”

Joel Zumaya got out of a two-on jam in the eighth by striking out Sizemore and Jason Michaels.

Fernando Rodney completed the four-hitter with a perfect ninth for his third save in as many chances.

Detroit has taken two of three in the four-game series against the Indians after winning its first four games under new manager Jim Leyland and then losing four in a row.

Base-running error nixes homer

It might have been the longest single in Javy Lopez’s career. Without question, it was the most disappointing.

Lopez hit a pitch from John Lackey into the seats at Camden Yards, but a confusing series of events caused him to pass teammate Miguel Tejada on the bases. Lopez was ruled out at second base, a key play in the Baltimore Orioles’ 9-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.

The base-running gaffe occurred in the second inning. After Tejada singled, Lopez hit a drive to center that sent Darin Erstad leaping at the wall to make the catch. When Erstad tumbled to the ground – his leg twisted awkwardly underneath him – it was uncertain whether he caught the ball.

By the time Erstad showed his empty glove, Tejada had retreated from second base and was passed by Lopez, who was credited with an RBI single and called out for passing the runner.

Beltran sits with sore hamstring

New York Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran sat out Sunday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers because of tightness in his right hamstring.

Beltran was hurt in Saturday’s 8-2 loss to the Brewers when he nearly collided with Prince Fielderin a play at first base. He left the game in the eighth inning.

“I went to see the doctor after the game and he said it was nothing major,” Beltran said. “But I woke up Sunday feeling sore.”

Beltran reported the injury to Mets manager Willie Randolph and they decided he would take Sunday off and see how the injury responds to treatment and anti-inflammatories.

Twins add Sierra

The Minnesota Twins purchased the contract of veteran Ruben Sierra and optioned rookie outfielder Jason Kubel to Triple-A Rochester.

Sierra – who is tied for sixth on the all-time list in sacrifice flies with 119, nine behind Eddie Murray – stayed behind for extended spring training in Florida while he rehabilitated a strained quadriceps, and went 3 for 12 with a double and one RBI in three games with Single-A Fort Myers.

Sierra, a 40-year-old switch-hitter in his 19th season in the majors, will be available for Tuesday night’s game against the Los Angeles Angels. His primary role will be as a bat off the bench, but manager Ron Gardenhire said he also could platoon in right field.