Groom Reaches New Territory

Buddy Groom had plenty on his mind Friday when he took the mound in search of his first major league victory at Arlington, Texas.

A day after the birth of his second child, Groom finally won in his 77th appearance by pitching the Detroit Tigers over the Texas Rangers 6-1.

“It’s been a good two days,” said Groom, who shut out Texas on one hit for 5 innings.

“We brought our son home tonight, and then I get my first win where I grew up as a fan,” Groom said. “It’s a weight off my shoulders. Now I need to string a few together.”

Groom (1-1) was 0-9 in 11 starts and 65 relief outings in the majors. Groom overcame three walks in the first inning. He walked only more batter after that, and struck out two.

Brewers 14, Blue Jays 5

Milwaukee

Joe Oliver had four hits, and Milwaukee scored 10 runs in its last two at-bats to break away from Toronto.

Tied at 4, Kevin Seitzer’s RBI single started a five-run seventh. Jeff Cirillo homered during a five-run eighth.

Oliver had two doubles and two singles, and Jose Valentin had a triple, double and single. Darryl Hamilton had a two-run double and a suicide squeeze for the Brewers, who had 18 hits.

Angels 3, Royals 2

Kansas City, Mo.

Spike Owen dropped a pinch-double over the thirdbase bag with two outs in the ninth inning, giving California a win over Kansas City.

Billy Brewer (0-1) walked both Gary DiSarcina, the ninth-place hitter, and Tony Phillips. Rusty Meacham then relieved Brewer and Owen, batting for Damion Easley, delivered his goahead hit.

New York 12, Boston 2

Boston

Sterling Hitchcock limited Boston to two singles in seven-plus innings, and Luis Polonia had four hits and scored four runs, leading New York to a win.

Aaron Sele (2-1) fell to 0-4 lifetime against New York. He pitched seven-plus innings, gave up three earned runs and struck out seven.

Indians 3, Orioles 2

Baltimore

Dennis Martinez, whose 222 wins are the most among active pitchers, is 3-0 in four lifetime starts against his former team after Cleveland beat Baltimore.

It was Cleveland’s fifth straight win and ninth in 11 games.

Twins 9, Athletics 5 Minneapolis

Rookie Scott Stahoviak had three hits, and Minnesota beat Oakland to end a four-game losing streak.

Marty Cordova hit a tworun double during a fourrun third that finished Dave Stewart (2-2).

Clearing the bases

Boston announced it has established a Red Sox Hall of Fame. The initial inductees include Babe Ruth, Tris Speaker, Cy Young, Jimmy Collins, Lefty Grove, Jimmie Foxx, Joe Cronin, Ted Williams, Harry Hooper, Rick Ferrell, Bobby Doerr, Carl Yastrzemski, Eddie Collins and Tom Yawkey… . New York’s Wade Boggs started at first base in place of injured Don Mattingly, who missed his sixth straight start because of a strained left hamstring. Boggs started there four times in 1994.

Oakland’s Dennis Eckersley needs one more save to become the sixth pitcher with 300. That would tie him with Bruce Sutter for fifth place on the career list… . Milwaukee has not had a winning May since going 17-13 in 1988… . Texas slugger Juan Gonzalez continues to make progress from the herniated disc in his lower back that has prevented him from playing a game this season. Gonzalez’s therapy has been successful, Rangers medical personnel said, and he is expected to begin working into baseball shape in the next four to five days.