Indians
Instead of displaying baseball’s typical casual home run trot, Michael Bourn ran around the diamond on his first career walk-off homer as if he were being chased. Even when he reached home plate, he continued to move the pile of bodies made up of his giddy teammates who mobbed him in celebration. “They said I was flying around the bases,” Bourn told the Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal. “I was just happy because we were able to complete the sweep and build momentum. … so to win on a walkoff and complete the sweep, my adrenaline was going. It was a good moment.”
Royals
The team claimed RHP Blake Wood on waivers from Cleveland and assigned him to Triple-A Omaha, making room on the 40-man roster by transferring RHP Luke Hochevar (elbow surgery) from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL. Kansas City also purchased the contract of RHP Wilking Rodriguez, optioned RHP Louis Coleman to Omaha and designated LHP Justin Marks for assignment. … James Shields is the first Royals pitcher to get an RBI since Luis Mendoza May 29, 2013, at St. Louis.
Tigers
Everybody’s favorite fictional crime-fighting cyborg made an appearance at a Tigers game. RoboCop threw out the first pitch at Comerica Park last week. An announcement said RoboCop’s motorcycle was on display at the stadium and the first 10,000 fans were getting a RoboCop cheer card after getting inside. It’s part of “RoboCop Day” in honor of the DVD release of this year’s “RoboCop” remake. An announcement was to be made about a RoboCop statue that’s expected to be installed in Detroit this year, but that event and a police meet-and-greet were cancelled. A movement for the statue started in 2011 after a social networking campaign. The 1980s science fiction movie was set in a futuristic and crime-ridden Detroit.
Twins
Manager Ron Gardenhire said RHP Mike Pelfrey, who had Tommy John surgery in 2012, had inflammation in his elbow and was being treated with medication. Pelfrey’s velocity has dropped from low 90s to around 87 mph. Gardenhire said Pelfrey was experiencing tingling in his fingers. … Joe Mauer (290) moved past Justin Morneau for fourth place on the Twins’ all-time doubles list (since 1961).
White Sox
Jose Abreu set major league rookie records for homers (10), RBIs (32), extra-base hits (19) and total bases (71) in April and was named AL rookie of the month. … Manager Robin Ventura reiterated his support for RHP Ronald Belisario as the team’s closer, saying there was no need to break in somebody else. … Hector Noesi hadn’t won a game in more than two years, but the Dodgers made him look like Juan Marichal. Noesi, a 27-year-old right-hander with a 4-19 career record before Tuesday, ended a personal 14-game losing streak, limiting the Dodgers to a run and five hits over six innings.
Compiled by Rick Crotts from wire reports.
