Puckett Channels Anger To Yankees

American League

Kirby Puckett hit a three-run homer and Pedro Munoz had a controversial home run Saturday night as the Minnesota Twins beat the New York Yankees 8-5.

Puckett connected in the first inning off Scott Kamieniecki, who was pitching for the Yankees for the first time since injuring his elbow May 5. Kamieniecki gave up five runs on seven hits and two walks in 3-1/3 innings.

Munoz was credited with a solo home run in the third that tied it at 4-4. First base umpire Rich Garcia called Munoz’s opposite-field drive fair, even though television replays indicated it was foul.

“(Garcia) has got to make that call. He’s been in the major leagues too long to screw it up like that. But that didn’t cost us the game. I still didn’t get ahead of guys and you can’t win when you pitch from behind.”

Said Yankees manager Buck Showalter: “We can’t use that as an excuse. It was only one run. Overall, they did more things right than we did. We put five runs on the board. We just didn’t get it done in the pitching department.”

Jeff Reboulet’s RBI single in the fifth put the Twins ahead 5-4. Puckett started the seventh with a bunt single off Bob Wickman, and Marty Cordova later hit a two-run single.

Eddie Guardado pitched four innings of one-hit relief for the win. He relieved after Frankie Rodriguez allowed four runs on seven hits in four innings.

Indians 7, Athletics 2

Cleveland

Orel Hershiser, his trademark sinker working impeccably, won for the first time in more than a month, and Manny Ramirez homered and drove in three runs as Cleveland beat Oakland.

Alvaro Espinoza also drove in three runs for the Indians, who have won 13 of their last 17 games to improve baseball’s best record to 49-21. Oakland has lost 10 of 13 overall and nine in a row against Cleveland.

Hershiser allowed two runs on Terry Steinbach’s second-inning homer, but got 17 of his 21 outs on ground balls, notching his first win since June 5. He allowed five hits, struck out three and walked one in seven innings.

Rangers 7, Red Sox 2

Boston

Kevin Gross, near the bottom of the A.L. pitching statistics in several categories, allowed five hits in 7-2/3 innings as Texas beat Boston.

Rusty Greer, who had two RBIs in his previous 17 games, singled in two runs for the Rangers off Erik Hanson (7-3). Greer went 3 for 4 after getting six hits in his previous 52 at-bats.

Texas led 3-0 after three innings, added four in the eighth and won for the seventh time in its last eight games at Fenway Park.

Orioles 9, Royals 1

Baltimore

Baltimore handed Kevin Appier his fourth straight loss scoring six early runs against the Kansas City ace.

Seldom-used Leo Gomez homered and matched his career-high with four RBIs as the Orioles beat Kansas City for the first time in four games this season.

Appier, who pitched two perfect innings in Tuesday’s All-Star Game, gave up eight hits and hit a batter in two-plus innings. He is 0-4 with a 9.97 ERA in his last four starts.

Brewers 9, White Sox 5

Milwaukee

Fernando Vina tripled home the go-ahead run in the seventh inning following a 2-1/2-hour rain delay, helping Milwaukee beat Chicago.

Darryl Hamilton drove in a season-high four runs and Greg Vaughn homered for the second straight game.

Angels at Tigers, ppd.

Detroit

The game, which never started, was postponed after a wait of one hour and 13 minutes, will be made up as part of a doubleheader this afternoon.

Saturday’s scheduled starters, Chuck Finley (7-7) for the Angels and David Wells (8-3), will pitch the first game. Mike Bielecki (4-6) will face Mike Moore (5-7) in the nightcap.