AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Seitzer Is Pitcher Perfect, but Athletics Still Lose

Statistically speaking, Oakland third baseman Kevin Seitzer might be the best pitcher in baseball today.

After reliever Kelly Downs was ejected during an argument that escalated into a bench-clearing brawl Sunday at Cleveland, Seitzer moved over from third base and threw one pitch to Cleveland’s Glenallen Hill--striking him out.

It was a fitting ending to a bizarre afternoon that saw the Indians beat the Athletics, 10-2.

The brief fight erupted after Downs and Cleveland designated hitter Carlos Martinez began yelling at one another after a foul ball with the Indians ahead by eight with two outs in the eighth inning. Martinez, who declined to comment, apparently was upset by an inside pitch earlier in the count.

Umpire Ted Hendry warned Martinez and Downs to calm down, and when Martinez kept hollering, Hendry ejected them both.

Martinez then charged the mound and was tackled by Oakland catcher Scott Hemond as both benches emptied.

“What’s he charging the mound for?” Hemond said. “We didn’t throw at him or anything. We came inside one time, and said one word to the guy, and he charged out to the mound.”

As for Seitzer, it was his first appearance as a pitcher since high school.

“Thirteen years between appearances,” Seitzer said. “The pitch split the plate in half. I volunteered. It’s something I always wanted to do. But it was quick. I didn’t want to walk the dude.”

The A’s have not won a series since they took two of three from Milwaukee on April 9-11.

Junior Ortiz, filling in for an injured Sandy Alomar, had three hits and scored three runs for Cleveland.

Charles Nagy (2-4) allowed four hits and two runs for the win. Bobby Witt (1-1) lost in his first bad outing in five starts this season.

Baltimore 4, Kansas City 3--Harold Baines reached base for the 12th straight time by singling home the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning Sunday, giving the Orioles the victory.

Baines has eight hits and four walks in 12 plate appearances in three games. The team record of 13 was set by Jim Dwyer in 1982.

Baines’ opposite-field single to left against Dennis Rasmussen (0-1) drove in Brady Anderson from second base.

Todd Frohwirth (1-1) pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings for the Orioles.

New York 3, Seattle 2--Bernie Williams drew a bases-loaded walk from Norm Charlton with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning as the Yankees beat the Mariners for a three-game sweep.

The Mariners, playing for the second straight day without injured center fielder Ken Griffey, tied it, 2-2, in the ninth inning when Tino Martinez led off with a home run against Jimmy Key.

John Habyan (1-1) pitched a perfect 10th.

Toronto 6, Chicago 1--Pat Hentgen outpitched Jack McDowell and Paul Molitor had three hits at Chicago as the Blue Jays ended Chicago’s six-game winning streak.

Hentgen (4-1) combined with Danny Cox on a five-hitter. Hentgen retired 12 straight during one stretch. Cox, pitched three innings for his fourth career save, his first in the American League.

McDowell (5-1) gave up four earned runs and nine hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Minnesota 6, Detroit 3--Kirby Puckett hit a tiebreaking home run during the eighth inning as the Twins defeated the Tigers at Detroit.

Brian Harper homered in the Minnesota seventh, tying the score, 3-3. Puckett hit his fifth home run into the second deck in left field against loser David Haas (1-1).

Mike Trombley (2-0) was the winner and Rick Aguilera pitched the ninth for his seventh save.

Texas 13, Milwaukee 2--Robb Nen, taking Nolan Ryan’s spot in the rotation, held the Brewers hitless for 5 2/3 innings at Arlington, Tex.

Jose Canseco drove in four runs with a homer and a single, giving him 1,000 hits. Dean Palmer also hit a two-run homer for Texas.

Nen (1-1) did not allow a hit until two out in the sixth inning when Greg Vaughn had a run-scoring double.