Indians Sweep A’S With Miracle Finish
American League
No one had a better view of the Cleveland Indians’ latest miracle finish than Dennis Eckersley. And even he had to appreciate it.
“In a situation like that, you’d think a guy would be trying for a base hit - and he goes long. Unbelievable,” a still-stunned Eckersley said Sunday after Manny Ramirez hit a two-out, two-run homer off him in the 12th inning, lifting the Indians past the Oakland Athletics 5-4.
Ramirez gave the Indians their 13th win in their last at-bat this season, completing their first-ever four-game sweep of the A’s. Cleveland is 6-0 in extra innings.
Orioles 3, Royals 2
Baltimore
Jamie Moyer pitched 7-2/3 innings of three-hit ball, and Rafael Palmeiro and Cal Ripken homered as Baltimore defeated Kansas City.
Moyer didn’t walk a batter and had a season-high seven strikeouts in winning his fourth straight start. After Wally Joyner singled in the first inning, the left-hander retired 16 straight batters before Chris James doubled with two out in the sixth.
Angels 6-13, Tigers 4-6
Detroit
Jim Edmonds homered twice and drove in five runs as California defeated Detroit in the rain-shortened second game of a doubleheader sweep.
The Angels swept the four-game series. The Tigers, after starting 5-0 on an 11-game homestand, lost five of the last six.
California won the opener 6-4 as Garret Anderson homered and hit a three-run double.
Yankees 5, Twins 1
New York
Rookie Mariano Rivera pitched six scoreless innings before leaving due to a torn fingernail, and Wade Boggs hit a two-run single as New York beat Minnesota.
Rivera (3-2) remained unbeaten in his five daytime starts but was forced to leave after tearing the nail on his right middle finger with two on and no outs in the seventh. Reliever Bob Wickman allowed an RBI double to Pat Meares, but escaped a bases-loaded jam.
Brewers 6, White Sox 1
Milwaukee
Brian Givens, who pitched more than 1,000 innings and underwent five elbow operations during 12 seasons in the minors, earned his first major league victory, leading Milwaukee past Chicago.
Givens (1-2) gave up three hits in eight innings as the Brewers completed their first four-game sweep of the White Sox since July 1982.
Rangers 5, Red Sox 2
Boston
Juan Gonzalez’s three-run home run in the third inning led Texas past Boston.
Kenny Rogers (9-4) got his first win since June 23, allowing only three hits in seven innings. The Red Sox got two runs off relievers Terry Burrows and Roger McDowell in the eighth, keeping them the only major league team without a shutout loss.
Clearing the bases
Boston promoted right-handed pitcher Jeff Suppan from Double-A Trenton to start today’s game against Kansas City… New York traded infielder Dave Silvestri to Montreal in exchange for minor league outfielder Tyrone Horne… . Oakland recalled left-handed pitcher Scott Baker from Triple-A Edmonton and optioned catcher George Williams to the Pacific Coast League team. . . . Kansas City put second baseman Edgar Caceres on the 15-day disabled list.