It was extra innings afternoon as the Tigers and Indians played a 13 inning slugfest, won when Al Alburquerque of the Tigers committed a based loaded balk. I was driving back from Boston listening to the 13th inning, and you could tell the Cleveland announcer just loved his game. Detroit homered in the top of the inning, the third time they took the lead. The Indians fought back in the bottom half to tie the game, and when Alburquerque balked, he went wild.

After a groundout, Alburquerque relieved and pinch-hitter Yan Gomes was walked intentionally to load the bases. Ryan Raburn took the first pitch for a ball. As Alburquerque went into his set position, he appeared to move his leg and glove and then stopped.

…

According to STATS, the game-ending balk is the first since July 4, 2011, when the Royals’ Aaron Crow committed one in the ninth inning against the White Sox. It’s also the first walkoff balk in extra innings since June 16, 2011, when the Mets’ D.J. Carrasco did it against the Braves.

That may be even worse than a walk-off walk. Cleveland wins 11-10.

The Yankees and Cubs also went extra innings, New York coming out on top 4-2. Jeff Samardzija left the game with a 2-0 lead after seven innings, but the bullpen and defense allowed the Yankees to tie, then New York won it in the 13th, the go-ahead run coming on a wild pitch. Samardzija lowers his ERA to 1.46, but he still doesn’t have a win in 10 starts.