Oriole Home Runs Defeat A’s, 8-6

Larry Sheets hit a pair of two-run homers, and Cal Ripken added a two-run blast Thursday to lead the Baltimore Orioles to their 15th victory in their last 16 games, an 8-6 decision over the Oakland A’s.

Brad Havens, in relief of Ken Dixon, did not allow a hit in 4 innings and struck out five to post his second victory against one loss. Don Aase pitched the final two innings for his 12th save. Chris Codiroli fell to 3-6.

Sheets belted a two-run homer in the second inning to pull the Orioles within 3-2 and added a two-run blast in the sixth to put the Orioles ahead, 7-6.

The A’s took a 3-0 lead in the first on a three-run homer by rookie Jose Canseco. Bruce Bochte doubled with one out and Carney Lansford reached base on an error by third baseman Juan Beniquez. Canseco then drilled his 14th home run, a line shot over the center-field fence.

Baltimore pulled to within 3-2 in the second inning. Ripken drew a one-out walk and Sheets followed with his second home run in two games and his fifth of the season, a blast to right field.

The Orioles moved in front 5-3 in the third inning. Codiroli made a throwing error on Alan Wiggins’ grounder, allowing Wiggins to reach third, and Lee Lacy tied the score with a sacrifice fly. Fred Lynn walked and was forced by Eddie Murray before Ripken ripped his seventh homer.

The A’s rebounded with three runs in their half of the third. Lansford led off with his fourth homer and Canseco followed with a double, moved to third on Dixon’s throwing error and scored on a double by Mike Davis. Havens relieved Dixon and induced Alfredo Griffin to ground out to Beniquez, but Davis never stopped running from second base and beat first baseman Murray’s throw home to give Oakland a 6-5 lead.

The Orioles regained the lead, 7-6, in the sixth as Codiroli walked Ripken and Sheets followed with his second homer of the game and his sixth of the year.

Baltimore picked up an insurance run on a walk to Beniquez, a sacrifice by Mike Young and Wiggins’ run-scoring single.