Orioles Win, Shatter Home-Run Record

American League

The Baltimore Orioles broke the major league record for home runs in a season with 243, connecting five times Sunday as they beat the host Detroit Tigers 16-6 to pull within 2-1/2 games of American League East-leading New York.

Brady Anderson began the game with his 46th homer, Cal Ripken homered twice and Bobby Bonilla hit a grand slam. Mark Parent’s three-run drive in the third inning was the Orioles’ 241st of the year, breaking the mark set by the 1961 Yankees.

The Orioles completed their first three-game sweep at Tiger Stadium since 1977.

Tony Clark homered twice, including a roof-clearing shot, in Detroit’s ninth straight loss.

Ripken’s four RBIs gave him 1,359, moving him ahead of Brooks Robinson for most in Orioles history.

Blue Jays 3, Yankees 1

Toronto

Woody Williams allowed five hits in eight innings and Joe Carter drove in two runs as Toronto stopped New York’s five-game winning streak.

John Olerud was hit twice by pitches, giving Toronto the major league record for hit batsmen (81) in a season.

Williams (4-3), who carried a three-hitter into the eighth, struck out eight and walked one.

Mike Timlin walked the leadoff batter in the ninth and gave up a one-out double to Tino Martinez. But the right-hander struck out Cecil Fielder, Charlie Hayes and Mariano Duncan for his 26th save.

Ramiro Mendoza (3-5), starting in place of Dwight Gooden, gave up three runs and seven hits in five innings.

Rangers 6, Brewers 2

Arlington, Texas

Mark McLemore and Mickey Tettleton homered as Texas beat Milwaukee, ending the Rangers’ season-high four-game losing streak on the day the team retired Nolan Ryan’s number.

The Rangers trailed 2-1 when McLemore led off the sixth with a homer off Ramon Garcia (4-4). His fifth homer of the year landed in the right-field seats, almost directly under the ‘34 Nolan Ryan 34’ sign unveiled during a pregame ceremony.

Will Clark followed with a single, and Tettleton homered off Bob Wickman.

Darren Oliver (13-6), the winner in Texas’ last victory on Tuesday, won his third straight start. Ed Vosberg got his eighth save.

Red Sox 9, White Sox 8

Boston

Frank Thomas homered in his first three at-bats, becoming the White Sox career home run leader, but Boston beat Chicago on Troy O’Leary’s two-out single in the ninth.

Thomas hit solo home runs in the first, third and fifth innings against Tim Wakefield. His first drive was his 215th for the White Sox, breaking a tie with Carlton Fisk for the team lead.

Thomas, with a chance to tie the major league record of four homers in a game, drew an intentional walk in the seventh and struck out swinging in the eighth.

A’s 10, Indians 9 (10)

Cleveland

Geronimo Berroa scored on Kenny Lofton’s throwing error in the top of the 10th as Oakland stopped Cleveland’s six-game winning streak.

Berroa led off with a single off Jose Mesa (2-7) and Brian Lesher walked. Terry Steinbach lined a shot up the middle which second baseman Jose Vizcaino just missed. Lofton picked up the ball in shallow center and tried to get Lesher at second, but his low throw bounced away from shortstop Omar Vizquel, allowing Berroa to score.

Carlos Reyes (7-10) got the final four outs for the victory.

Manny Ramirez homered for the third straight game, and Jim Thome hit his 36th homer for Cleveland.

Angels vs. Royals, ccd.

Kansas City, Mo.

California at Kansas City was rained out and will not be made up. The game never got started and was called after a wait of 57 minutes.

Clearing the bases

Bobby Bonilla’s grand slam for the Orioles was the 14th the Tigers have allowed this year, a major league record. … The Yankees are 22-13 in one-run games, the best record in the majors.. .. With 118 home runs, Mark McGwire (50), Geronimo Berroa (36) and Terry Steinbach (32) have surpassed the 116 homers hit by A’s Hall of Famers Jimmy Foxx (58), Al Simmons (35) and Mickey Cochrane (23) in 1932. … Cleveland’s Kenny Lofton stole his major league leading 73rd base and has 12 steals in the last seven games.