American League Roundup : Orioles Rally for 9-8 Win

The last time the Baltimore Orioles were out of first place was May 25. They came about as close as they can come to falling into second place Wednesday night.

The Orioles, who figured their luck might be changing when Roger Clemens was unable to take his turn at Boston, found Joe Price unbeatable for five innings and trailed, 6-0.

But the Orioles stormed back to win, 9-8, despite a two-run home run in the ninth by Nick Esasky and went home with a two-game lead in the American League East.

It was the end of a 14-game trip and the Orioles would have finished it percentage points behind the Red Sox if they had lost this one and finished 1-13.

Instead, they play 17 of their next 20 games at home in a division in which they are the only team above .500.

Price, a left-hander with a 1-5 record in relief, held the Orioles to four singles in five innings. But he was knocked out in a three-run sixth, and Randy Milligan tied the score with a three-run home run in the seventh.

Cal Ripken doubled home the tie-breaking run as the Orioles scored three more runs in the eighth. Esasky hit his 19th home run with two out in the ninth.

“This may be just what we needed,” Manager Frank Robinson said. “It was another incredible turn in an incredible season. We needed a big lift and you can’t get one much better than this. Mentally, this may have been our biggest win.

“I liked the way we battled back. We seemed to finally relax. I’ll tell you one thing, it will be nice to get home and we’re still in first place.”

New York 7-3, Minnesota 6-4--The Yankees rallied from a 6-1 deficit to win the opener of the doubleheader at New York, then wiped out a three-run deficit in the second game, only to lose in the 10th.

Rookie catcher Bob Geren’s two-run home run sparked a five-run rally in the seventh-inning of the opener.

In the second game, Mike Dyer held the Yankees to four hits in seven innings. David West, obtained from the Mets in the Frank Viola trade, came in to pitch the eighth and gave up a three-run home run to Jesse Barfield to tie the score.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Yankees loaded the bases with nobody out, but Jeff Reardon stopped them.

In the 10th, Greg Gagne singled and Kirby Puckett doubled him home. Puckett was five for 10 in the doubleheader and is hitting .344.

Oakland 2, Chicago 0--At Oakland, Storm Davis and relievers Gene Nelson and Rick Honeycutt extended the scoreless string by Oakland pitchers to 21 innings.

It was Oakland’s 12th shutout this season.

Jose Canseco singled home the first run in the first inning, and the other came in the fifth on Melido Perez’s balk.

Cleveland 1, Milwaukee 0--Tom Candiotti needed a rest. Because of an aching shoulder, the knuckleball specialist went on the disabled list July 1.

The veteran right-hander held the hard-hitting Brewers to six hits and struck out eight in eight innings at Milwaukee to win his third in a row.

It was his fourth consecutive sharp performance since he returned. Candiotti (10-6) has been unscored upon in three outings and gave up two runs, only one earned in the other. In 31 innings, he has given up 17 hits, four walks and has struck out 17.

“It has been humid lately,” Candiotti said. “The knuckler dances in high humidity.”

Toronto 8, Kansas City 0--John Cerutti had a no-hitter at Toronto until George Brett doubled with one out in the seventh inning. Cerutti settled for a two-hitter to improve to 8-5.

The Blue Jays’ two new outfielders sparked their 15-hit attack. Lee Mazzilli, who arrived shortly before game time, was three for three, including a home run. Mookie Wilson, who played center field in his second game with his new club, was two for five and scored a run.

Detroit 6, Texas 4--Things are finally looking up in Detroit. For the first time in almost two months, a pitcher won two successive starts.

To make it even better, it was rookie Kevin Ritz who did it. Ritz gave up seven hits and struck out nine.