Orioles’ Six-Run Rally Downs Yanks

American League

Jeffrey Hammonds had a career-high four RBIs as the Baltimore Orioles rallied from a five-run deficit to defeat the New York Yankees 8-7 Tuesday night in Baltimore.

Jeff Manto and Chris Hoiles homered for the Orioles, who have won two straight after a seven-game losing streak. Baltimore trailed 7-2 in the fifth before mounting its biggest comeback of the year.

Hammonds had a sacrifice fly in the third, an RBI double in the fifth and put Baltimore ahead with a two-run double in the sixth.

Gerald Williams hit a grand slam and Danny Tartabull added a solo shot for the last-place Yankees, who have lost three of four.

Baltimore countered with four runs in the bottom of the inning. Hammonds and Rafael Palmeiro had RBI doubles before Manto hit a two-run homer.

In the sixth, Manny Alexander beat out an infield hit against reliever Bob Wickman (2-2). With two outs, Brady Anderson walked and Hammonds drilled a liner into the gap in left-center to put Baltimore up 8-7.

Athletics 5, Twins 2

Oakland

Scott Brosius had two solo homers and an RBI single and Steve Ontiveros allowed one run in seven innings as Oakland defeated Minnesota.

Brosius homered on the first pitch of the game from Pat Mahomes (0-4), singled in a run in the second and hit his fifth homer of the season in the fifth. It was the third time Brosius has homered twice in a game.

Indians 9, Red Sox 2

Cleveland

Rookie Chad Ogea allowed one run in eight innings and Kenny Lofton drove in four runs as Cleveland beat Boston.

Carlos Baerga, leading the American League in hits, had three hits and drove in two runs, and Eddie Murray singled home a run with his 2,990th career hit.

Angels 3, Royals 2

Anaheim, Calif.

Lee Smith pitched the ninth inning for a record 18th save in 18 appearances, preserving California’s victory over Kansas City.

Smith broke his own major league mark of 17 saves in 17 appearances set in 1993 with St. Louis. Smith, who hasn’t allowed a run in 18 innings this season, was helped by left fielder Garret Anderson’s back-handed catch of a drive by Gary Gaetti, robbing him of at least a leadoff double.

Rangers 8, Tigers 6

Detroit

Rusty Greer and Juan Gonzalez homered on consecutive pitches in the fifth inning as Texas ended a slugging slump by defeating Detroit.

Brewers 5, Blue Jays 3

Toronto

Rookie Sid Roberson scattered three runs and seven hits in seven innings and Darryl Hamilton drove in the go-ahead run with a fifth-inning double, lifting Milwaukee to victory over Toronto.

Clearing the bases

Jose Canseco rejoined the Boston Red Sox after missing more than a month because of abdominal and groin injuries. Red Sox manager Kevin Kennedy immediately inserted him in the lineup at designated hitter against Cleveland and he went 0 for 4… . Mark McGwire played his 1,000th game at first base for Oakland… . The Yankees have given up 70 homers in 49 games, including 18 multi-homer games.