Tigers starter pitches … barely

Hurler tossed after brushing D-Ray with first pitch

? Nate Robertson was just happy Detroit won, even if he didn’t benefit personally from the Tigers’ ejection-marred victory over the struggling Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Robertson, who threw complete games in two of his previous three starts, was tossed for throwing his only pitch behind a batter in retaliation for Tampa Bay’s Scott Kazmir hitting Placido Polanco in the leg with the first pitch of the game.

The left-hander spent the rest of the night watching the Tigers’ bullpen sparkle on the way to a 7-3 victory that extended Tampa Bay’s losing streak to 10 games.

“You know what? We won the game, and it’s a good win,” Robertson said after Detroit won for the fourth straight time since falling a season-high six games under .500 earlier in the week.

Despite pitching well, Robertson has lost his last two decisions – 2-1 to Chicago and 1-0 to New York – because of a lack of run support. This time, the Tigers gave him a four-run lead before he even stepped on the mound.

“It’s just a pitch that got away from me,” Robertson said, denying that he threw at leadoff man Carl Crawford. “Bottom line, it just got away from me.”

The Tigers starter also scoffed at the suggestion that he wasted a good opportunity to win.

“I didn’t lose anything. It’s not about my record,” Robertson said. “It’s not about anything that I do, as long as we win the game.”

Craig Monroe homered and had a season-high five RBIs for the Tigers, including a two-run, first-inning single that came one pitch after right fielder Aubrey Huff overran a fly ball that should have been caught in foul territory for the third out.

Home-plate umpire Tim McClelland, center, escorts Detroit pitcher Nate Robertson, left, and Tigers manager Alan Trammell off the field after ejecting Robertson during the first inning against Tampa Bay. In the bottom of the first inning, Robertson threw behind Carl Crawford with his first pitch in retaliation for the Devil Rays' Scott Kazmir hitting Placido Polanco with the game's first pitch. Detroit won, 7-3, Friday in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Monroe added a sacrifice fly off Kazmir (3-7) in the third and hit a two-run homer off Dewon Brazelton for a 7-0 lead in the seventh.

Franklyn German (3-0) replaced Robertson and allowed one hit in three innings to get the victory.

Plate umpire Tim McClelland immediately tossed Robertson when the left-hander’s pitch sailed several feet behind Crawford.

McClelland didn’t issue a warning when Kazmir hit Polanco because he didn’t feel it was intentional. The 21-year-old rookie began the night leading the AL in walks, and Polanco was the seventh batter he’s plunked this season.

“It was the first pitch of the game. There wasn’t any history or anything. Polanco hadn’t been hitting the ball, he hadn’t done anything to merit being thrown at. I just think the pitch got away from him,” McClelland said.

The crew chief didn’t feel the same way about Robertson’s lone pitch.

“When it’s three feet behind a guy, yeah, then I’m pretty sure that’s intentional,” McClelland said.

Kazmir denied throwing at the Tigers’ leadoff man.

“There was no way I had any intention against Polanco. … It was just the first pitch, trying to go inside with it. It just flew out and went straight for him.”

Yankees 5, Indians 4

New York – Chien-Ming Wang (6-3) gave up a home run to Grady Sizemore on his first pitch before settling down, and the Yankees extended their winning streak to six.

Cliff Lee (9-4) gave up five runs and six hits in six innings.

Red Sox 7, Orioles 2

Baltimore – Manny Ramirez drove in three runs, and Johnny Damon went 4-for-5 to back Bronson Arroyo (7-5), who gave up one run and six hits in 72â3 innings.

Baltimore’s Rafael Palmeiro got two hits to get within five of 3,000, and he moved past Reggie Jackson into sole possession of ninth place with his 564th home run.

Rangers 7, Blue Jays 6

Arlington, Texas – Alfonso Soriano hit a tying single in the ninth off Miguel Batista (4-2), then scored from third base, beating the throw from shortstop Russ Adams on Rod Barajas’ grounder.

Athletics 4, White Sox 2

Chicago – Kirk Saarloos (5-5) outpitched All-Star Jon Garland (13-4), and Bobby Crosby had two run-scoring doubles.

Saarloos (5-5), who has won four of his last five decisions, allowed seven hits and two runs in six-plus innings as the A’s won for the 11th time in 14 games. Huston Street pitched the ninth for his fifth save.

Garland (13-4) allowed three runs and eight hits in five innings, his shortest outing of the season.

Mariners 10, Angels 4

Anaheim, Calif. – Jamie Moyer recorded his 200th major-league victory, and Randy Winn hit his fifth career grand slam for Seattle.

Moyer (8-3) allowed four runs and seven hits in 61â3 innings, striking out four and walking one. The 42-year-old left-hander was staked to a 7-0 lead before giving up a three-run homer to Bengie Molina in the sixth and a solo shot to Jeff DaVanon in the seventh.