Raburn's HR in 9th gives Tigs 5-4 win vs. Cubs

[June 24, 2009]  DETROIT (AP) -- Pinch-hitter Ryan Raburn hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning, lifting the Detroit Tigers to a seesaw, 5-4 win over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night.

Chicago's Micah Hoffpauir hit a go-ahead, two-run shot in the eighth inning off Joel Zumaya.

Brandon Inge's two-run home run in the seventh put the Tigers ahead 3-2 and they were a strike away from taking the lead into the ninth, but Hoffpauir sent Zumaya's 85 mph pitch over the fence in right.

Carlos Zambrano went from the losing pitcher to the winning one to not factoring in the decision thanks to Hoffpauir's homer and Raburn's blast to left-center.

Carlos Marmol struck out the side in the eighth, setting up Kevin Gregg for a save opportunity. Gregg (2-2) got off to a poor start by walking Don Kelly on a full-count pitch.

Raburn was hitting for Josh Anderson, who pinch ran for slumping slugger Magglio Ordonez.

Brandon Lyon (3-3) got the victory after retiring one batter in the ninth, helping the AL Central-leading Tigers win their fifth game in a row.

The Cubs had won four of five.

Detroit starter Edwin Jackson allowed two runs and struck out seven over seven innings.

Zumaya blazed a 102-mph fastball past Milton Bradley for the second out of the eighth, but got burned with a finesse pitch to Hoffpauir.

The Tigers had won four straight with struggling Ordonez out of the lineup and won again despite putting him back on the field.

Ordonez fizzled in his first game in almost a week, going 0-for-2 on a chopper to third and a popup in foul territory.

The six-time All-Star and 2007 AL batting champion, who is hitting just .271 with two homers, walked in the seventh and pinch-runner Anderson was promptly picked off by Zambrano.

Ordonez hit seventh, the lowest he has been in a lineup since 1998. He hit sixth earlier this season.

The Cubs and Tigers both scored a run in the first, then were held scoreless until Geovany Soto's sacrifice fly in the fifth put Chicago ahead 2-1.

NOTES: Cubs 3B Aramis Ramirez (shoulder) is scheduled to take batting practice later this week, taking another step toward getting off the disabled list. ... The Cubs signed their first-round draft pick, OF Brett Jackson. ... Lee extended his career-high hitting streak to 20 games. ... Cubs bench coach Alan Trammell, a former Tigers manager and star player, visited crumbling Tiger Stadium before Tuesday's series opener in Detroit. Trammell, who spent his entire 20-season career with the Tigers and led them to a World Series title in 1984, said that the stadium's demolition doesn't change any of his fond memories of the storied venue. ... Detroit has won six straight at Comerica Park and is 21-11 this season for its best 32-game record at home since having the same record in 1993.

[Associated Press; By LARRY LAGE]

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