Jaha Homers Twice In Win Over Oakland

American League

John Jaha hit two homers, including a 458-foot shot that nearly cleared the County Stadium bleachers in the Milwaukee Brewers’ 16-3 rout of the Oakland Athletics Thursday night.

Pat Listach drove in three runs, and former Spokane Indian Matt Mieske went 3 for 3 with a triple and a homer, as the Brewers roughed up Oakland starter Steve Wojciechowski for nine runs, six earned, on nine hits and a balk in 4-2/3 innings.

The barrage only got worse against Oakland’s beleaguered bullpen.

Todd Van Poppel surrendered four runs on four hits in two-thirds of an inning, and Carlos Reyes gave up three runs on six hits in 2-2/3 innings.

Angels 6, Blue Jays 4

Anaheim, Calif.

Damion Easley, Garret Anderson and Tim Salmon homered as California beat Toronto for the Angels’ fifth straight victory.

Chuck Finley allowed four runs and six hits over six innings with six strikeouts and a walk. The left-hander is 6-0 in eight starts at Anaheim Stadium since Milwaukee beat him 15-9 on opening night.

Red Sox 8, Rangers 7 (10)

Boston

Alex Delgado singled home the winning run with his second major-league hit and Boston came from behind four times before defeating Texas.

The Red Sox, who lead the major leagues with 15 extra-inning games, tied the score 7-7 on John Valentin’s seventh homer of the season with one out in the 10th.

Royals 10, Orioles 2

Kansas City, Mo.

Craig Paquette had four RBIs and Doug Linton pitched two-hit ball, powering Kansas City past Baltimore as Cal Ripken tied the world record by playing in his 2,215th consecutive game.

The Baltimore shortstop, set to break Sachio Kinugasa’s record tonight, drew a big ovation when he singled in the second inning for the first hit off Linton (2-2).

Linton, making his fifth start, walked two, struck out six and surrendered the only Baltimore runs on a Brady Anderson homer. He retired 13 of the last 14 batters he faced before being replaced by Mike Magnante with two out in the seventh.

Indians 6, Yankees 2

New York

Orel Hershiser and two relievers combined on a five-hitter and Eddie Murray drove in three runs to lead Cleveland past New York.

Hershiser allowed one run on four hits, struck out five and walked one in 7 innings.

Murray hit his seventh homer of the season after Yankees starter Kenny Rogers issued a full-count walk to Manny Ramirez leading off the seventh. He hit a bases-loaded single in the eighth off reliever Jeff Nelson to drive in another run.

The Indians are 33-9 when they score the game’s first run.

Belle argues suspension

Albert Belle was back at baseball’s headquarters, this time trying to convince A.L. president Gene Budig not to suspend him for five games.

The hearing, which could result in Belle’s fifth suspension in six years, is scheduled to conclude today. Budig’s ruling on the appeal isn’t expected until next week at the earliest.

The five-game penalty stems from a game against Milwaukee on May 31 when Belle was running the bases and struck second baseman Fernando Vina with a forearm.

Clearing the bases

California center fielder and home run leader Jim Edmonds, who played only two games after coming off the 15-day disabled list, was placed back on the DL because of a sprained ligament in his right thumb. … Milwaukee added right-handed reliever Jose Mercedes to its roster and outrighted left-handed reliever Kevin Wickander to Class AAA New Orleans. … Texas placed first baseman Will Clark on the 15-day disabled list and activated Kurt Stillwell.