Franco’s Late Homer Sinks Boston Again

American League

Julio Franco hit a solo home run in the 11th inning Sunday, giving the visiting Cleveland Indians a 7-6 victory over Boston and sending the Red Sox to their worst start in 69 years.

Franco drove a pitch from Mike Stanton (0-1) into the right-field seats, dropping Boston to 2-9 for the first time since 1927.

Julian Tavares (1-1) pitched 2-1/3 innings and Jose Mesa, Cleveland’s sixth pitcher, got three outs for his third save.

Boston had two more errors, increasing its total to 19 in 11 games.

Tigers 5, Angels 4

Detroit

Mark Lewis’ RBI single in the ninth inning gave Detroit the victory over California.

Bobby Higginson led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk off reliever Mike James (2-1). Kimera Bartee, pinch-running for Higginson, was sacrificed to second by John Flaherty before pinch-hitter Tim Hyers was intentionally walked. Chad Curtis then struck out before Lewis singled through the middle to score Bartee with the winning run.

Twins 4, Orioles 1

Baltimore

Minnesota ended Baltimore’s five-game winning streak as Francisco Rodriguez pitched 7-2/3 innings of three-hit ball in the victory.

Rodriguez came in with a 12.91 ERA and Baltimore led the A.L. with a .289 batting average, but the right-hander took a shutout into the seventh inning and allowed only two runners to get past second base.

Rodriguez (1-1) walked three and struck out two in the longest stint of his major-league career.

Yankees 12, Rangers 3

New York

Andy Pettitte won his third straight start, and Mariano Duncan drove in three runs to lead New York over Texas.

After opening the season with seven straight wins, the Rangers have lost three of their last four. Texas has lost nine of its last 10 games at Yankee Stadium.

Pettitte (3-0) allowed two runs and eight hits in eight innings, lowering his ERA to 2.57. He struck out five and walked two.

Athletics 10, White Sox 5

Chicago

Mike Bordick went 4-for-5, breaking an eighth-inning tie with a two-run single that led Oakland past Chicago.

The A’s picked up their 7,000th win since joining the A.L. The total includes their years in Philadelphia (1901-1954) and Kansas City (1955-67).

Brewers 5, Royals 2

Milwaukee

Ben McDonald pitched six solid innings and Mike Matheny drove in three runs with a homer and a single as Milwaukee beat Kansas City.

McDonald (2-0) gave up two runs on five hits. He struck out six and walked three.

Clearing the bases

Former Spokane Indian Dave Hollins of the Twins has reached base in 21 of his 40 plate appearances… . Boston’s Mo Vaughn is in a 7-for-37 slump.