Orioles Clinch In Davis’ Return

The Baltimore Orioles had just rallied to a victory that assured them another trip to the playoffs, and all anyone wanted to talk about was a comeback of a different sort.

Eric Davis played his first game Monday since colon cancer surgery in June, going five innings in the opener of a day-night doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians.

Davis went hitless, but the 6-5 victory made Baltimore the first team in the majors to clinch a spot in the postseason. The Orioles also reduced their magic number to clinch the A.L. East title to nine.

In the second game, Chad Ogea (7-9) pitched six shutout innings and Marquis Grissom homered off Rick Krivda (4-1) to lead the Indians to a 4-1 victory.

Batting third and playing right field in his first game since May 25, Davis’ numbers were rather ordinary - four catches and 0 for 3 at the plate.

Yet the return itself was nothing short of remarkable, considering Davis had a cancerous tumor and one-third of his colon removed just three months earlier and has been undergoing energy-sapping chemotherapy treatments for several weeks. The crowd and his teammates showed their appreciation by giving him a standing ovation on several occasions.

Angels 8, Twins 5

Anaheim, Calif.

Garret Anderson fouled off seven pitches with two strikes, then hit a three-run homer with one out in the ninth for Anaheim.

Gary DiSarcina opened the ninth with a single off Mike Trombley (2-3).

Pinch-runner Darin Erstad advanced to second on a groundout before Eddie Guardado relieved.

Erstad took third on a wild pitch and Tony Phillips was walked intentionally.

Rick Aguilera relieved and Anderson hit his eighth homer of the season.

Pep Harris (3-4), who pitched out of bases-loaded jams in the eighth and ninth innings, earned the victory.

The Twins, who lost for the 10th time in 13 games, took a 5-4 lead in the eighth when Ron Coomer hit an RBI single off Harris.

The Twins scored two unearned runs in the first off Dennis Springer without getting a hit.

Yankees 7, Red Sox 6

New York

Derek Jeter singled home the winning run with two outs in the ninth as New York lowered its magic number for clinching a playoff berth to six.

On a night that included Tino Martinez’s first homer in three weeks and a weird, game-tying play in the sixth, Jim Corsi (3-2) walked Paul O’Neill leading off the ninth. O’Neill then tagged up and just beat the throw following Bernie Williams’ fly to deep left.

Martinez was intentionally walked, Chad Curtis struck out and Jeter singled just in front of a diving Michael Coleman in center, his third straight hit.

Mariano Rivera (5-4) pitched a perfect ninth, stopping Boston’s four-game winning streak. New York can clinch its third consecutive postseason berth with any combination of Yankees’ wins and Angels’ losses that total six.

Brewers 11, White Sox 10

Milwaukee

Jeromy Burnitz and Darrin Jackson drove in three runs apiece as Milwaukee snapped a five-game losing streak.

Jackson and Jack Voigt hit two-run homers for the Brewers, who moved into second place in the A.L. Central.

Cal Eldred (13-13) gave up seven earned runs on nine hits in 5 innings.

Doug Jones got the final four outs for his 33rd save in 34 opportunities. He tied Dan Plesac’s team record set in 1989, and has converted a club-record 22 straight saves.

Royals 11, Rangers 9

Arlington, Texas

Jose Offerman had four hits and four RBIs and Jeff King’s two-run double in the ninth inning won it for Kansas City.

Offerman led off the ninth with a single against Danny Patterson (9-6) and Jed Hansen pinch-ran.

Johnny Damon popped up a bunt attempt, but Jay Bell singled and King followed with his double into the left-field corner.

Tigers 6, Athletics 3

Oakland, Calif.

Bobby Higginson hit a three-run homer and rookie Frank Catalanotto had a two-run double for Detroit.

The game was played before only 4,651 fans, the smallest crowd at the Oakland Coliseum since 4,513 watched the A’s play Texas on Sept. 17, 1986.

It was the Tigers’ 10th win in 13 games.

Clearing the bases

Jose Valentin stole home for Milwaukee, a first for the Brewers since B.J. Surhoff on Aug. 5, 1995.