Cleveland Falls Short In Quest For 100 Wins

American League

The Cleveland Indians failed in their quest to become the first team with consecutive 100-win seasons since the 1979-80 Baltimore Orioles, losing 4-1 to the host Kansas City Royals.

Cleveland, which opens the playoffs Tuesday at Baltimore, finished at 99-62 with a game against Seattle wiped out by rain. Last year, the Indians went 100-44.

Kansas City finished last in the A.L. Central at 75-86, its most losses in four seasons. The Royals had never finished last in their 28-year history.

Brewers 7, Tigers 5 (10)

Detroit

On the day Alan Trammell retired, Detroit finished the worst season in franchise history with its 17th straight home loss.

The Tigers went 53-109 in their first year under manager Buddy Bell. Detroit’s losses were the most in the majors since Toronto dropped 109 in 1979.

Detroit did not win a game at Tiger Stadium after Aug. 30, breaking the team record of 14 straight losses at home. The major league mark is 20 by the 1953 St. Louis Browns.

Trammell, starting at shortstop for the last time, had two singles and a sacrifice fly. The final hit of his 20-year career was a single in the 10th inning.

Red Sox 6, Yankees 5

Boston

Playoff-bound New York ended the regular season by losing three of its last four games as Reggie Jefferson’s RBI single in the ninth inning gave Boston a victory.

Despite losing the series in Boston, the Yankees’ 92-70 record is their best since 1985. Boston finished at 85-77 after starting 6-19.

Blue Jays 4, Orioles 1

Toronto

Pat Hentgen overcame Brady Anderson’s 50th home run to become the third 20-game winner in the majors this season, leading Toronto past Baltimore.

Anderson led off the game by hitting a 2-2 pitch into the right-field seats. It was his 12th homer leading off a game, breaking the major-league record set by Bobby Bonds in 1973.

Rangers 4, Angels 3

Arlington, Texas

Kevin Elster hit a two-run homer and A.L. West champion Texas finished its most successful regular season by defeating California.

Elster capped the best year of his career with 24 home runs and 99 RBIs.

Twins 5, White Sox 4 (10)

Minneapolis

Paul Molitor drove in the winning run with a 10th-inning single, his third hit of the game, as Minnesota closed the season with a victory over Chicago.

Molitor, 40, finished the year with 3,014 career hits. He doubled twice, allowing him to match his personal season-best with 41.

Clearing the bases

With nine homers and a team-leading 112 RBIs, Paul Molitor became only the second player since 1950 (Tommy Herr, 1987) to drive in more than 100 runs with fewer than 10 homers. … Tony Clark’s 26 homers are the most by a Detroit rookie since Matt Nokes hit 32 in 1987.