Cleveland Rarity: Indians Lose 3-1

American League

Backed by home runs from Mo Vaughn and Mike Greenwell, Erik Hanson gave up four hits in eight innings against baseball’s best-hitting team as the visiting Boston Red Sox beat the Cleveland Indians 3-1 Wednesday night.

Cleveland lost for just the fourth time in 18 games and also lost starting pitcher Orel Hershiser to a stiff lower back. Hershiser (5-3), who left after yielding a leadoff double to Greenwell in the fourth inning, was listed as day-to-day.

The victory was Boston’s first in seven tries at Jacobs Field since the park opened last year. The Red Sox have won just three of their last 10 games overall, but they still lead the A.L. East by five games.

Hanson (7-1) blanked Cleveland on two hits until the fifth, when Manny Ramirez tripled - the first of his career - and scored on Tony Pena’s groundout. Ramirez, who didn’t break for home until third baseman Chris Donnels threw to first, barely beat Vaughn’s throw home with a head-first slide.

Hanson struck out six and walked one before giving way to Stan Belinda, who got three outs for his third save. The Indians had taken a .298 average into the game.

Brewers 10, Blue Jays 9

Toronto

Jose Valentin’s grand slam with two outs in the ninth inning lifted Milwaukee over Toronto.

With the Brewers trailing 8-6, Greg Vaughn worked reliever Woody Williams for a leadoff walk and Darryl Hamilton chased Williams with a two-out single, the only hit he allowed in three innings. David Hulse greeted Mike Timlin (3-1) with a single to load the bases.

Valentin worked the count full before sending Timlin’s pitch to right for his second career grand slam.

Yankees 2, Orioles 1

Baltimore

Rookie Andy Pettitte pitched six solid innings and Paul O’Neill and Bernie Williams both homered as New York averted a three-game sweep by beating Baltimore.

The Yankees, who managed only six hits, won for the first time in 19 games when scoring fewer than four runs. They are 4-22 when they get less than 10 hits.

Tigers 1, Rangers 0

Detroit

Lou Whitaker hit the first home run allowed by Bob Tewksbury this year and Detroit made it hold up against Texas.

Felipe Lira (4-3) allowed five hits in eight innings before Juan Gonzalez doubled with one out in the ninth. Mike Henneman got the last two outs for his 11th save as the Tigers salvaged one win in three games with the Rangers.

Tewksbury allowed nine hits in eight innings. He struck out four and walked two.

Royals 6, Angels 3

Anaheim, Calif.

Gary Gaetti, flourishing in Kansas City after more than two years as a flop with California, hit a three-run homer, and Jon Nunnally hit two solo shots to beat California.

Twins 3, Athletics 2

Oakland, Calif.

Rich Becker’s RBI single in the ninth inning gave Minnesota its first series victory of the season.

Clearing the bases

Designated hitter Chili Davis, the leading hitter for the A.L. West-leading California Angels, was placed on the disabled list Wednesday with a strained left hamstring.