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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Mcgwire Continues Fireworks At Fenway

American League

Oakland first baseman Mark McGwire brought even the Boston fans at Fenway Park to their feet.

McGwire hit home runs in three consecutive at-bats Sunday, and also tied the major league record for homers in two straight games, leading the Oakland Athletics over the Boston Red Sox 8-1.

McGwire, who leads the majors with 17 homers, connected against Zane Smith for solo shots in his first three at-bats. All three cleared the Green Monster, including a 463-foot shot and another drive that hit the light tower in left field.

“I saw the ball, I put three good swings on the ball, and they left the park. That’s all that matters to me,” McGwire said. “That, and the fact that we won.”

McGwire, who homered against Boston twice Saturday, became the 15th player in modern history to hit five home runs in consecutive games.

Angels 5, Orioles 4

Baltimore

Lee Smith set a major league record with saves in 16 straight appearances, pitching a scoreless ninth inning to preserve California’s win over Baltimore.

With two outs and a runner on third, Smith intentionally walked Rafael Palmeiro before retiring Cal Ripken on a routine fly ball to end it.

Royals 3, Jays 2 (10)

Kansas City

Jon Nunnally singled off the glove of leaping first baseman Ed Sprague with two outs in the 10th inning to lift Kansas City over Toronto.

Gary Gaetti drew a oneout walk and Greg Gagne walked with two outs against Darren Hall (0-2). Mike Timlin relieved, and Nunnally’s line drive scored pinch-runner Les Norman.

Tigers 8, Twins 2

Minneapolis

John Flaherty homered twice and drove in four runs to lead Detroit to its third straight victory/

Todd Steverson and Flaherty hit consecutive home runs in the ninth, and Juan Samuel hit a two-run homer later in the inning off Twins reliever Dave Stevens.

Indians 11, Brewers 5

Milwaukee

Albert Belle doubled three times and drove in three runs, and Jim Thome and Carlos Baerga homered as Cleveland beat the Milwaukee.

Belle tied a career-high with four of the Indians’ 19 hits.

Rangers 3, White Sox 2

Arlington, Texas

Juan Gonzalez homered for the second straight game, a two-run shot in the eighth inning that gave Texas a win over Chicago.

Gonzalez, who missed 35 games because of back problems, hit his second homer of the season off reliever Jose DeLeon (2-2) to score Will Clark, who reached on a forceout.

Clearing the bases

Bob Hamelin, unable to find the stroke that made him the league’s rookie of the year with the Kansas City Royals last season, was sent down to Triple-A Omaha… . Minnesota pitchers Scott Erickson and Pat Mahomes will be skipped in their next scheduled starts after arriving 35 minutes late for workouts before Sunday’s game against Detroit. Erickson and Mahomes both said they overslept.