Belle’s Heroics Leads Indians Past Jays
American League
Once again, the Cleveland Indians turned the incredible into the routine.
“I don’t know, the more improbable it gets, the more these guys do it,” manager Mike Hargrove said Wednesday night after Albert Belle’s two-out, solo home run capped a two-run 14th inning that beat the visiting Toronto Blue Jays 4-3.
It was the eighth time this season the Indians ended a home game abruptly with a home run. In all, they’ve won 23 games in their last at-bat, and they’re 10-0 in extra innings.
“We all should be beyond the ‘surprised’ stage by now,” Hargrove said. “You anticipate it.”
Cleveland has won seven in a row overall, improving baseball’s best record to 79-35. They reduced their magic number for clinching the AL Central to 10.
The Blue Jays scored a run in the top of the 14th on Mike Huff’s bases-loaded sacrifice fly off Paul Assenmacher (6-2), but the Indians answered immediately.
Kenny Lofton led off the bottom half with a double off Tony Castillo (1-3), took third on Omar Vizquel’s sacrifice bunt and scored on Carlos Baerga’s sacrifice fly, tying it 3-3.
Belle then drove a 2-1 pitch into the bleachers in left for his 32nd home run.
Athletics 7, Orioles 2
Baltimore
Terry Steinbach homered, Brent Gates got three hits and rookie Doug Johns won his third straight start as Oakland defeated Baltimore.
Royals 2, Brewers 1
Kansas City
Mark Gubicza and Jeff Montgomery combined on a four-hitter as Kansas City held off Milwaukee in a game between wild-card contenders.
Yankees 4, Angels 1
New York
Andy Pettitte, coming off two bad starts, pitched a five-hitter that led New York past California, the fifth straight loss for the AL West-leading Angels.
White Sox 10, Tigers 7
Chicago
Ron Karkovice hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning as Chicago rallied to beat Detroit.
Twins 6, Rangers 2
Minneapolis
Kirby Puckett and Marty Cordova homered during a five-run rally in the eighth inning and Minnesota sent Texas to its fourth consecutive loss.
Clearing the bases
Minnesota is 2-13 in home day games this season… . Detroit’s Lou Whitaker and Alan Trammell tied an American League record by appearing together in their 1,914th game. They share the A.L. record with George Brett and Frank White of Kansas City. The major league record is 2,015 held by the Chicago Cubs’ Billy Williams and Ron Santo…. Oakland reliever Rick Honeycutt retired the only batter he faced, his 20th consecutive appearance without giving up a run…. Toronto’s Joe Carter needs one more home run to reach 20 for the 10th consecutive season.