Murray Edges Closer To Homer Milestone

American League

Eddie Murray’s 497th career homer, his second of the game, snapped an eighth-inning tie Wednesday and gave the Baltimore Orioles an 8-5 victory over Milwaukee, the Brewers’ ninth straight loss.

Roberto Alomar also homered twice for the Orioles, who have won seven of nine and 11 of 15. Alomar’s second homer, a two-run shot off Ron Villone, made it 8-5 in the eighth.

Murray opened the inning by lining an 0-1 pitch from Ricky Bones (7-13) into the center-field seats. In the third, he hit a solo shot over the right-field scoreboard.

It was Murray’s first two-homer game of the season and 27th of his career.

Murray, who has 18 homers this season, is just three homers short of joining Willie Mays and Hank Aaron as the only players in baseball history with 500 homers and 3,000 hits.

Twins 13, Athletics 7

Oakland, Calif.

Chuck Knoblauch homered on the game’s first pitch and Matt Walbeck drove in four runs as Minnesota pounded Oakland.

Knoblauch’s homer ignited a five-run first inning off Dave Telgheder (1-4) as the Twins won for the ninth time in 11 games.

Frankie Rodriguez (11-9) pitched five innings in relief of starter Scott Aldred for the win.

Geronimo Berroa homered for the A’s, raising the team’s major league leading total to 195.

Yankees 3, White Sox 1

Chicago

Andy Pettitte became the American League’s first 17-game winner and Darryl Strawberry doubled in the go-ahead run as New York turned back Chicago.

The Yankees, avoiding a three-game sweep, got solo homers from Tino Martinez and Derek Jeter.

Pettitte (17-7) is 11-0 in day starts this season and 10-2 following a Yankees’ loss. The left-hander scattered seven hits over seven innings, including Frank Thomas’ 26th homer in the sixth. He struck out nine.

Rangers 5, Tigers 4

Arlington, Texas

Juan Gonzalez homered and Kevin Elster delivered a two-run single as Texas extended its winning streak to six games with a victory over Detroit.

Todd Van Poppel (1-6) lost his debut with the Tigers by allowing five runs and six hits with five walks in five innings.

Red Sox 8, Blue Jays 6

Toronto

Charlie O’Brien’s passed ball allowed Troy O’Leary to score the go-ahead run in the ninth inning as Boston rallied from a four-run deficit and beat Toronto.

Jacob Brumfield homered twice and drove in a career-high five runs for the Blue Jays. Mo Vaughn and Wil Cordero drove in three runs each for the Red Sox.

Angels 8, Indians 7

Anaheim, Calif.

California rallied from a six-run deficit, beating Cleveland behind Randy Velarde’s tiebreaking two-run double.

Jack McDowell (10-7), who failed to hold a 6-0 lead, was visibly upset when manager Mike Hargrove yanked him in the third. McDowell allowed seven runs and eight hits in 2-1/3 innings.

Troy Percival pitched the ninth for his 29th save.

Clearing the bases

Four of the last five hits by Boston’s Mike Stanley and eight of his last 15 have been home runs. … Joe Carter is 4 for 53 in his last 11 games. … The A’s need four more home runs to match their franchise record of 199 set in 1987. … The Orioles have hit at least two homers in 10 of their last 11 games. … New York’s John Wetteland, the major league saves leader with 38, said his pulled right groin was a bit better but still didn’t know if he’d be forced to the disabled list. Wetteland suffered the injury while throwing in the outfield before Tuesday night’s game. … With 82 stolen bases, Toronto has already surpassed last season’s total of 75. Otis Nixon is 40 for 51 this season.