Indians Unload For Runs Record

American League

The Cleveland Indians tied a major-league record Tuesday night by scoring eight runs in the first inning against visiting Kansas City before anyone was out.

The outburst, capped by Paul Sorrento’s second career grand slam, tied a record the Indians set against the Baltimore Orioles on July 6, 1954, and matched by the New York Yankees against the Orioles on April 24, 1960.

Royals starter Doug Linton allowed all eight runs on six hits and three walks.

Kenny Lofton started the inning with a home run, his first, and after Omar Vizquel walked, Carlos Baerga hit his third homer.

Singles by Albert Belle and Eddie Murray and a walk to Jim Thome loaded the bases, and Manny Ramirez then walked, forcing in a run. Sorrento hit the next pitch for his fifth homer of the year.

Tony Pena, the ninth hitter, grounded out for the first out, and after Lofton singled for his second hit in the inning, Linton picked him off first base. Vizquel flied to center for the inning’s last out.

Clearing the bases

Cleveland has surpassed two million tickets sold for this season. The Indians have drawn more than two million fans only three times (1948, ‘49 and ‘93), although they also would have done it last year had there been no strike. … Toronto’s John Olerud is 2 for 16 this season with runners in scoring position.

Cal Eldred of Milwaukee hasn’t allowed a first-inning run so far this season after finishing with an 8.64 ERA in the first inning last year. … With Kent Hrbek retired, Minnesota has shuffled first basemen, using six players at the position.

Blue Jays 9, Yankees 6

Toronto

Rookie shortstop Alex Gonzalez drove in three runs as Toronto defeated Jack McDowell (1-1) of New York for the 10th time in 14 career starts.

Gonzalez, whose other four RBIs this season all came on opening day, hit a sacrifice fly in the second, a run-scoring single in the fourth and an RBI double in the fifth - all off McDowell, who is 3-8 in the regular season against the Blue Jays and 0-2 in two playoff starts.

McDowell went four innings, giving up nine runs on 12 hits. He now has a 6.20 ERA in 85 2/3 innings against Toronto with the Chicago White Sox and Yankees.

Pat Hentgen (2-0) allowed six runs and 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings.

White Sox 6, Twins 1

Chicago

Jim Abbott (1-1) allowed two hits over seven innings and Chicago scored five times in the third to beat Minnesota in a game delayed twice by rain.

Abbott, who signed with the White Sox as a free agent, retired the first nine batters before Chuck Knoblauch led off the fourth with a single after a 30-minute rain delay.

Red Sox 4, Orioles 3

Boston

Pinch-hitter Wes Chamberlain hit a one-out homer in the ninth off Armando Benitez (0-2) to give Boston a win over Baltimore.

Indians 10, Royals 0

Cleveland

Paul Sorrento had a grand slam during an eight-run first and Orel Hershiser (1-1) notched his first A.L. win as Cleveland pounded Kansas City.

Angels 3, Rangers 2

Anaheim, Calif.

Gary DiSarcina and Eduardo Perez had run-scoring doubles and Greg Myers hit his second homer in three games since coming off the disabled list as California beat Texas.

Brewers-Tigers, susp.

Milwaukee

Cecil Fielder led off the top of the ninth with a mammoth homer to bring Detroit into a 2-2 tie with Milwaukee in a game suspended by rain in the bottom of the ninth. The game will be resumed tonight.