CLEVELAND (AP) - Coco Crisp caused more commotion than a runaway squirrel.
Manager Eric Wedge keeps his eyes on the field as a squirrel runs by the Indians' dugout.
Crisp dived headfirst for a go-ahead bunt single in the eighth inning that sent Cleveland over the New York Yankees 4-3 on Wednesday night, ending the Indians' nine-game losing streak.
The Indians rallied for two runs in the eighth, providing an entertaining end to the 30,605 fans who spent much of the evening cheering for a squirrel.
"It was the Rally Squirrel. He was our secret weapon," Crisp said. "They've got the Rally Monkey in Anaheim and we've got our guy."
The little brown critter ran onto the field in the third inning, later darting between Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter.
He spent the rest of the game on the field. Play was held up several times, including in the seventh inning with Jeter at the plate and a runner on second. Several players smiled and grinned at the sight.
"I don't think I've ever seen a squirrel hang out for entire ballgame like that," Indians manager Eric Wedge said.
The Indians superimposed a team jersey over a photo of the squirrel on the giant television screen in center. Later, the squirrel appeared to be eating a peanut while nestling in the grass.
"I noticed he kept running away from (Gary) Sheffield," Yankees manager Joe Torre quipped.
Cleveland trailed 3-2 when Tom Gordon (6-4) walked Ben Broussard and Casey Blake to start the eighth. Jody Gerut sacrificed both runners over and Ronnie Belliard's sacrifice fly tied it.
Crisp then laid down a drag bunt past Gordon, diving headfirst to barely beat second baseman Enrique Wilson's throw.
"My mindset was show some moxie and let's get it done," Crisp said.
He jumped to his feet after being called safe and pulled off his helmet.
"I was just so pumped up," Crisp said. "I don't really remember what I did after I slid. I was just so excited."
Wedge raved about the play.
"Coco did it on his own," he said. "That's what you need in this situation - somebody to step up and have the guts to make something happen."
David Riske (7-2) went 1 1-3 perfect innings and Rafael Betancourt got three outs for his third save in 10 chances. Gordon won the first two games of the series and was appearing in his fourth straight game.
"We felt comfortable sending him out there," Torre said. "He's our closer in the eighth inning. He's used to being in trouble and pitching out of it."
Gordon said he anticipated Crisp's bunt, but couldn't get to it.
"I'm disappointed because I didn't get the job done," he said. "The team fought back to get the lead. I felt fine. I just didn't make all the pitches."
The Yankees' lead over Boston in the AL East was trimmed to 5{ games when the Red Sox beat Toronto 11-5. Cleveland, which had been one game behind AL Central-leading Minnesota on Aug. 15, climbed back to .500.
"It felt great to stop the streak, but hopefully we'll feed off this game and start a run back the other way," Crisp said.
Manager Eric Wedge keeps his eyes on the field as a squirrel runs by the Indians' dugout.
Crisp dived headfirst for a go-ahead bunt single in the eighth inning that sent Cleveland over the New York Yankees 4-3 on Wednesday night, ending the Indians' nine-game losing streak.
The Indians rallied for two runs in the eighth, providing an entertaining end to the 30,605 fans who spent much of the evening cheering for a squirrel.
"It was the Rally Squirrel. He was our secret weapon," Crisp said. "They've got the Rally Monkey in Anaheim and we've got our guy."
The little brown critter ran onto the field in the third inning, later darting between Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter.
He spent the rest of the game on the field. Play was held up several times, including in the seventh inning with Jeter at the plate and a runner on second. Several players smiled and grinned at the sight.
"I don't think I've ever seen a squirrel hang out for entire ballgame like that," Indians manager Eric Wedge said.
The Indians superimposed a team jersey over a photo of the squirrel on the giant television screen in center. Later, the squirrel appeared to be eating a peanut while nestling in the grass.
"I noticed he kept running away from (Gary) Sheffield," Yankees manager Joe Torre quipped.
Cleveland trailed 3-2 when Tom Gordon (6-4) walked Ben Broussard and Casey Blake to start the eighth. Jody Gerut sacrificed both runners over and Ronnie Belliard's sacrifice fly tied it.
Crisp then laid down a drag bunt past Gordon, diving headfirst to barely beat second baseman Enrique Wilson's throw.
"My mindset was show some moxie and let's get it done," Crisp said.
He jumped to his feet after being called safe and pulled off his helmet.
"I was just so pumped up," Crisp said. "I don't really remember what I did after I slid. I was just so excited."
Wedge raved about the play.
"Coco did it on his own," he said. "That's what you need in this situation - somebody to step up and have the guts to make something happen."
David Riske (7-2) went 1 1-3 perfect innings and Rafael Betancourt got three outs for his third save in 10 chances. Gordon won the first two games of the series and was appearing in his fourth straight game.
"We felt comfortable sending him out there," Torre said. "He's our closer in the eighth inning. He's used to being in trouble and pitching out of it."
Gordon said he anticipated Crisp's bunt, but couldn't get to it.
"I'm disappointed because I didn't get the job done," he said. "The team fought back to get the lead. I felt fine. I just didn't make all the pitches."
The Yankees' lead over Boston in the AL East was trimmed to 5{ games when the Red Sox beat Toronto 11-5. Cleveland, which had been one game behind AL Central-leading Minnesota on Aug. 15, climbed back to .500.
"It felt great to stop the streak, but hopefully we'll feed off this game and start a run back the other way," Crisp said.
