AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Recycled Molitor Hits for Cycle in 4-2 Win

Injuries in recent years have made it almost impossible for Paul Molitor to play a regular position.

But no one has made it impossible for the Milwaukee Brewer star to hit. No matter the injuries and how much time they force him to miss, if he can make it to the plate, Molitor can hit.

Molitor performed a rare modern day feat Wednesday night at Minneapolis, hitting for the cycle while leading the Brewers to a 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins.

The 34-year-old designated hitter became only the fourth Brewer to hit for the cycle. Most recent was teammate Robin Yount, who did it in 1988.

Molitor tripled in the first inning, singled in the third, doubled in the fifth and led off the seventh with a home run to make Kevin Tapani (2-3) the loser. In the ninth inning, Molitor grounded out.

Molitor put on the show in front of family and friends who came over from St. Paul. He left 35 tickets.

“I don’t see them that often,” Molitor said. “It makes it nice to do it in front of them. I was all pumped up. I was very thankful and very excited.”

Molitor raised his average to .322. It’s only to be expected from a hitter with a lifetime average just a point below .300.

Oakland 6, Baltimore 3--The Orioles hit three home runs at Baltimore, but they came after Queen Elizabeth and President Bush departed and too late to beat the Athletics.

Bob Welch (4-2) beat the Orioles for the fifth consecutive time, although he needed help from Steve Chitren in the sixth. Dennis Eckersley gave up two hits in the ninth but picked up hit ninth save.

Randy Milligan had two homers and Craig Worthington the other for the Orioles.

Vance Law had three hits and drove in two runs, one with a squeeze bunt.

Kansas City 6, Toronto 4--Bret Saberhagen, who won only five games last season because of back and shoulder problems, pitched another strong game at Toronto.

Saberhagen held the Blue Jays to two runs on eight hits in eight innings, didn’t walk a batter and struck out eight for his third in a row.

Saberhagen, who has his best seasons in years ending in odd numbers, improved to 4-3.

Bill Pecota went three for four and drove in two runs and Brian McRae hit a three-run home run.

Seattle 6, Cleveland 4--The sizzling Mariners continued to keep the pressure on the Athletics in the West, winning at Cleveland.

Rookie Rich DeLucia won his third in a row and the Mariners won for the ninth time in 10 games. DeLucia (4-2) allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings, striking out seven.

Eric King (3-4) is unbeaten on the road, but his record at Cleveland is 0-4. He lasted 6 1/3 innings, giving up nine hits and six runs.

Edgar Martinez had two hits for the Mariners, including his fourth home run. He scored three times.

The Indians, who have lost seven of eight, put catcher Sandy Alomar on the 15-day disabled list with a rotator cuff injury.

Boston 9, Chicago 6--They broke the major league record for a nine-inning game by playing 4 hours 11 minutes at Boston.

The record of 4:02 was set by the Milwaukee Braves and San Francisco in 1962.

The White Sox built a 5-0 lead, but the Red Sox fought back, going ahead on a passed ball by Carlton Fisk on a play that should have ended the sixth inning.

Jack Clark struck out with the bases loaded, but the ball eluded Fisk while Wade Boggs scored the tying run. Mike Greenwell’s two-run double broke it open.

Texas 5, Detroit 4--Juan Gonzalez hit a two-run homer in the 12th inning at Arlington, Tex., and the Rangers handed the Tigers their sixth consecutive defeat.

Detroit took a 4-3 lead in the top of the 12th on Mickey Tettleton’s RBI single.

The Rangers climbed above .500 (15-14) with their fourth consecutive victory.