Chisox Lose Big Lead, Rebound To Beat Orioles

American League

The Chicago White Sox blew a seven-run lead, then got a sacrifice fly from Lyle Mouton in the 10th inning to hand the Baltimore Orioles their first home loss of the season, 11-9 Wednesday night.

Eric Davis’ ninth career grand slam tied the game in the seventh inning for the Orioles, who rallied from a 9-2 deficit. Davis’ six RBIs matched a career high, last reached in 1989.

Tony Phillips opened the Chicago 10th with a single. After a walk to Frank Thomas and a groundout by Albert Belle, Harold Baines was walked intentionally to load the bases. Mouton lifted a fly ball to left that easily scored Phillips, and a single by Dave Martinez made it 11-9.

Indians 11, Red Sox 7 Cleveland

Jack McDowell got a win in the first regular-season relief appearance of his career, and Cleveland rallied from a five-run deficit.

McDowell (1-2), banished to the bullpen because of 12.51 ERA in three starts, was brilliant in four scoreless innings, allowing two hits, striking out four and walking two. The 1993 A.L. Cy Young Award winner got out of a second-and-third, no-outs jam in the fourth, walking off the field to a standing ovation.

Yankees 10, Brewers 5 New York

Tino Martinez drove in five runs as New York stretched a winning streak to three for the first time this season.

Martinez hit a three-run double in the sixth for New York, which began the day tied for last in the A.L. East.

Kenny Rogers won despite allowing five runs and six hits in six innings with four strikeouts and six walks. Graeme Lloyd pitched 1 innings for his first save since 1995.

Rangers 2, Tigers 1 Arlington, Texas

Pinch-hitter Mike Simms singled home the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving Texas a win.

The Tigers tied it in the ninth on Tony Clark’s RBI single with two outs off John Wetteland.

Ivan Rodriguez, who homered in the fourth, singled off Doug Brocail (0-2) to open the Texas ninth and moved up on Rusty Greer’s sacrifice against Mike Myers.

Myers struck out Will Clark, who had three hits, and intentionally walked Dean Palmer. Dan Miceli relieved and Simms, who homered as a pinch-hitter Monday night, fisted the first pitch into short right field. Melvin Nieves charged the ball but had no chance as Rodriguez scored easily.

Athletics 6, Twins 1 Oakland, Calif.

Mark McGwire homered for the fourth straight game and Scott Spiezio hit his first career grand slam as Oakland defeated Minnesota.

Chuck Knoblauch homered on the second pitch of the game from Ariel Prieto (2-0). Prieto later escaped a pair of bases-loaded jams, allowing nine hits in six innings.

McGwire, who had three hits, hit his eighth home run of the season in the first inning. He connected after Rich Robertson (2-1) walked Jose Canseco.

McGwire also hit homers in four straight games from July 23-26, 1996. The club record is five consecutive games, held by Dave Kingman in 1986.

Angels 5, Blue Jays 4 (10) Anaheim, Calif.

Jim Edmonds homered with one out in the 10th inning, lifting Anaheim to a win. It was the Angels’ second come-from-behind, extra-inning triumph in three nights.

Loser Paul Spoljaric (0-2) retired Luis Alicea on a fly to left before Edmonds lined a 3-1 pitch just inside the right-field pole for his fourth homer.

Irabu deal now on paper

The New York Yankees and San Diego Padres spent Wednesday trying to put their Hideki Irabu deal in writing before submitting it to the ruling executive council.

The council is expected to approve the memorandum of understanding, which also will be sent to the Japanese commissioner’s office for approval. After that, the Yankees can begin formal contract negotiations with the 27-year-old right-hander.

Clearing the bases

A day after declaring himself “100 percent,” Boston Red Sox right-hander Tim Wakefield was placed on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his right elbow. … The Red Sox are 2-2 against Cleveland after going 0-7 against the Indians last April. … Yankees GM Bob Watson was hospitalized Tuesday in New York for problems relating to high blood pressure. … The A’s bullpen leads the major leagues with seven victories. The A’s led the big leagues with 31 relief wins last year.