AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Baerga’s Homers: Historic

Carlos Baerga became the first player in major league history to hit home runs from both sides of the plate in the same inning, highlighting a nine-run seventh inning that led the Cleveland Indians over the New York Yankees, 15-5, Thursday night at Cleveland.

Baerga, batting right-handed against Steve Howe, hit a two-run homer to put the Indians ahead, 8-5, with no outs in the seventh. With two outs, he hit a solo home run batting left-handed against Steve Farr.

Baerga is the first Indian player to homer twice in an inning. The feat, accomplished 26 times in the majors, was last done by Boston’s Ellis Burks on Aug. 27, 1990.

Cleveland got eight hits in its big inning, including Alvaro Espinoza’s three-run homer and single. Albert Belle was hit by a pitch from Howe after Baerga’s first home run, then Steve Farr was ejected by plate umpire Al Clark when he threw a pitch close to Belle’s knee after Baerga’s second homer.

Baerga went four for five with a double, scored four runs and drove in three.

It was the 92nd time that a switch-hitter had homered from both sides of the plate in a game; Mickey Mantle and Eddie Murray have done it 10 times.

Mike Bielecki, pitching for the first time since tearing a ligament in his right elbow July 28, went six strong innings for the victory. He gave up two runs on six hits, struck out five and walked one.

Detroit 3, Oakland 2--Reliever Mike Henneman got Jerry Browne to ground into a game-ending double play with the bases loaded, and the Tigers held on to beat the Athletics at Oakland.

The Tigers, who gave up 21 runs in losing the first two games of the year to the A’s, took a 3-2 lead into the ninth inning.

Henneman relieved to start the ninth and walked Scott Brosius, and an error by shortstop Travis Fryman put runners on first and second. A sacrifice by Eric Fox and an intentional walk to Rickey Henderson loaded the bases. Henneman escaped with a save, however, when Browne hit a grounder to Fryman, who started the double play.

Chicago 9, Minnesota 4--Ron Karkovice and Tim Raines hit two-run home runs, leading the White Sox to the victory at Minneapolis.

Alex Fernandez gave up two runs and five hits in eight innings. The 23-year-old right-hander was helped by his defense, which ended each of the first three innings by turning double plays.

Boston 9, Kansas City 4--Scott Cooper, Boston’s replacement for five-time batting champion Wade Boggs, had three hits and four runs batted in as the Red Sox defeated the Royals at Kansas City.

The Red Sox began a season with three consecutive road victories for the first time since 1957. The Royals are off to another slow start after going 1-16 to begin 1992.

By the time Boston had finished batting in the second inning, it was 8-0 and every starter except Luis Rivera had a hit off Mark Gubicza (0-1). Gubicza lost in his first appearance since last July 10, when shoulder and arm problems ended his season.