AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Mitchell Gets Back in Swing of Things

In one game, Kevin Mitchell went from his worst to his best.

Mitchell, struggling through the first 50 games after being traded by the San Francisco Giants, hit two home runs and drove in five runs as the Seattle Mariners overpowered the Cleveland Indians, 10-3, Thursday night at Cleveland.

Mitchell, who hit only two home runs in the first two months of the season while hampered by a wrist injury, has never had a start like this--or a game like this. He hit his first grand slam and tied his career high for runs batted in.

“This ought to help me a lot,” said Mitchell, who hit more home runs over the past three seasons--109--than anyone in baseball.

“I felt really good about myself today. I expected a lot out of myself. I’m off to a slow start, but there’s still a lot of time left. It can get better. It can’t get no worse.”

Rookie Dave Fleming (8-1) won his eighth consecutive decision and tied Roger Clemens of the Boston Red Sox and Kevin Brown of the Texas Rangers for the league lead in victories. Fleming is one short of Scott Bankhead’s team record for consecutive victories.

Fleming allowed one run and three hits in seven innings, walking none and striking out three. He retired 15 consecutive hitters at one stage.

Ken Griffey Jr. also homered twice for the Mariners, who ended their three-game losing streak and Cleveland’s three-game winning streak.

Cleveland starter Denis Boucher (1-1) gave up seven runs and six hits in 1 2/3 innings.

Minnesota 15, Texas 12--Chuck Knoblauch hit a tie-breaking two-run single in the ninth inning and Kirby Puckett followed with a two-run homer as the Twins outlasted the Rangers at Arlington, Tex.

The 27 runs were the most ever scored in a Ranger game and the most in the majors this season.

Puckett, who hit a grand slam and had five RBIs in against Toronto on Wednesday night, was 4 for 5.

The Twins won despite losing the lead three times and withstanding Dean Palmer’s first grand slam. Palmer was 3 for 5 with four RBIs, and Rafael Palmeiro was 4 for 5 with three RBIs.

Detroit 6, New York 2--Mickey Tettleton and Lou Whitaker continued the home run barrage off Yankee pitcher Scott Sanderson as the Tigers won at New York.

Tettleton hit a two-run homer in the first inning and Whitaker, who had three hits and two RBIs, added a solo shot in the third. Sanderson (4-3) has given up 16 homers in 12 games.

Detroit’s Frank Tanana (4-4) went the first five innings, allowing five hits, including Mel Hall’s seventh homer.