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CLEVELAND -- For eight innings, the Tigers couldnt connect in the clutch. They were exasperated, annoyed and seemingly on their way to a tough loss. One swing by J.D. Martinez changed their mood. Martinez hit a three-run homer off closer Cody Allen with one out in the ninth inning, rallying the Tigers to a 4-2 win over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night. "He hit it so hard, it sounded like thunder," teammate Torii Hunter said. Martinezs shot into the shrubs beyond the centre-field wall bailed out the Tigers, who stranded 12 runners through eight. But in the ninth, Hunter drew a leadoff walk from Allen (5-4), Miguel Cabrera singled, and after Victor Martinez flied out, J.D. Martinez ripped his 19th homer, a crushing blow to the Indians. "It was one of those swings where you hit it and it just feels perfect," Martinez said, "like you couldnt do anything else or any better. When I reached home, I was like, Did I touch every bag? You get caught up in the situation. Its September, this is the month you win or go home." Phil Coke (3-2) pitched 1 1-3 innings and Joe Nathan worked the ninth for his 29th save. Detroits comeback kept the Tigers on the heels of first-place Kansas City in the AL Central. The Royals have a half-game lead in the division. The Indians wasted a strong performance by Carlos Carrasco, who side-stepped danger for 5 1-3 innings and struck out a career-high 10. Carlos Santana hit a two-run homer for Cleveland, which has dropped the first two in this critical four-game series and fell 5 1/2 games out of first. J.D. Martinez has hit two homers in three career at-bats off Allen, who was trying to protect a 2-1 lead against the middle of Detroits vaunted lineup. "I was just overthrowing it," Allen said. "I just didnt make pitches when I had to. One pitch -- J.D. Martinez got extended on a fastball and hit it very hard." Until Detroits uprising, Carrasco was in line for his fourth straight win. The right-hander managed to work out of jams in four straight innings, making big pitches and keeping the Tigers power hitters in the ballpark one night after Detroit slugged five homers and collected 20 hits. Tigers rookie starter Kyle Lobstein was superb in his first career road start, allowing five hits in 5 1-3 innings and striking out 10. Every time the Tigers threatened, Carrasco found a way out of trouble. Clinging to a one-run lead in the fifth, he gave up a leadoff double to Cabrera, who went to third on Victor Martinezs single. Carrasco then struck out J.D. Martinez looking, fanned Nick Castellanos and locked up catcher Alex Avila with an 84 mph off-speed pitch to end the inning, celebrating his 10th whiff with a demonstrative fist pump. Even Cabrera patted Carrasco on the rear as the right-hander passed him while leaving the field. "He really dug deep," Indians manager Terry Francona said of Carrasco. "That was really something. He pitched out of so many binds and executed some unbelievable pitches." Santana got the Indians out of the gate fast, hitting his 23rd homer in the first. Michael Brantley singled with two outs before Santana connected for a shot into Detroits bullpen in right. BATTERED BACKSTOP Avila was removed in the sixth after taking a foul ball of his mask. He felt dizzy and struggled to answer the trainers questions. He was feeling better after the game, but will have further tests Wednesday. The veteran catcher missed two weeks last season with delayed concussive symptoms. HOT IN CLEVELAND Even before his homer, J.D. Martinez liked Progressive Field. Hes batting .464 (13 of 28) with five homers, 13 RBIs and six runs in seven games at the ballpark this season. TRAINERS ROOM Tigers: RHP Joakim Soria (strained left oblique) played catch from 140 feet before the game. Soria, acquired at the trade deadline from Texas to shore up Detroits shaky bullpen, has been on the disabled list since Aug. 10. Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said Soria was pain-free for the first time, and will likely throw batting practice instead of pitching in the minors. UP NEXT Detroit RHP Justin Verlander (12-11) hasnt pitched like himself most of this season. Hes dealt with shoulder issues and the 2011 AL MVP hasnt been nearly as dominant as in previous years. But its September, theres important games ahead and hes still a handful for the Indians, who will counter with Danny Salazar (5-6). Evgeny Kuznetsov Jersey . Henry, who missed three games with a knee injury, was charged with a handball in the penalty area in the 82nd minute as he went to block a strike from Patrick Mullins. On the ensuing penalty kick, Lee Nguyen picked up his fourth goal of the season, giving the Revolution a 2-1 win Saturday afternoon. Washington Capitals Jerseys . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. http://www.officialcapitalsfanstore.com/...apitals-jersey/. And it showed Thursday night. The Canadiens, playing in their second game in as many days, however, got a good performance in the end from their backup goaltender as he filled in for an injured Olympic gold medallist . Dennis Maruk Jersey . Yet coming off consecutive series losses at St. Louis and Pittsburgh, Los Angeles needed some sort of spark as August approaches. The Dodgers found it in the ballpark of their biggest rival, and left the Bay Area in first place following an emphatic three-game swing. Custom Washington Capitals Jerseys . - Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery was so busy in free agency he didnt mind having a few extra weeks to prepare for the draft.EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman spoke glowingly and definitively about Adrian Petersons character, his contributions to the team and his ability to return from nearly a full season off to be an impact player again.The only thing Spielman declined to say with certainty was whether Peterson will be back with the Vikings next season.I dont know if theres a team in the NFL that wouldnt want Adrian Peterson on their football team, Spielman said on Wednesday in his first public comments about Peterson since the star running back was suspended by the NFL for striking his 4-year-old son with a wooden switch.If you can name me one ... and I dont want to speak for other teams ... but I know that hes a pretty good football player.Petersons future with the team that drafted him in 2007 has been in question ever since he pleaded no contest to misdemeanour reckless assault for disciplining his son.Peterson missed all but one game this season while addressing the charges and was suspended by the NFL in December for the remainder of the 2014 season, with the league saying he will not be considered for reinstatement until April 15.Peterson will turn 30 in March and is set to count more than $15 million against the Vikings salary cap next season, leading to speculation that Vikings could decide to trade or release him or ask him to take a pay cut.But coach Mike Zimmer said at seasons end that he would welcome Petersons return to the team if he gets his life in order.Spielman stopped short of guaranteeing Petersons return, but his comments about Petersons contributions to the community and perseverance painted the picture of a player who is respected within the organization.There is no doubt or no question on what Adrian Peterson has done for this organization on the field and what he is as a football player, Spielman said. I think people tend to forget, when Adrrian did make a mistake, he admitted he made a mistake, he went through the process in the court system.dddddddddddd . Hes currently suspended by the NFL right now. But hes done a lot of positive things in this community as well.Spielman also expressed a firm belief that Peterson would be able to return to form as one of the leagues best running backs even after sitting out almost an entire season and hitting 30, the age when many running backs start to experience a fast and steep decline in production. Spielman pointed to 2012, when Peterson returned from a horrific knee injury to rush for 2,097 yards and was the league MVP.Knowing Adrian, I know that he is going to want to come back and play (and) hes going to play at a very high level when he comes back, Spielman said. Im anticipating that, just knowing Adrian from what hes done in the past.Spielman would not comment on Petersons contract situation and said the team cannot be in contact with Peterson during his suspension.The NFL Players Association has filed a lawsuit in federal court in an effort to overturn the arbitrator Harold Hendersons decision to uphold Petersons suspension. An initial court hearing will be held in Minneapolis on Feb. 6.Spielman said they would like to have a more definitive plan for Peterson before free agency and the draft come around to give them ample opportunity to add another running back if he is no longer in purple. The draft will be held starting on April 30.Is there a resolution? Not right now, Spielman said. All I know is where we stand today. Does that change? Im sure its going to change. But until those things change, until things get resolved, right now, we have Adrian Peterson, who is under contract next year, who is currently suspended by the NFL, and thats pretty much all I can go into right now.___AP NFL websites: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '