BASEBALL ROUNDUP : From Either Side, Murray’s a Smash

Eddie Murray hit home runs from both sides of the plate for a major league record 11th time and moved into 20th place on baseball’s home run list Thursday, leading the Cleveland Indians past the Minnesota Twins at Minneapolis, 10-6.

Murray, 38, who signed with the Indians as a free agent in the off-season, hit a three-run homer batting left-handed in the first inning and added a two-run shot from the right side in the seventh, ending a 5-5 tie.

“That’s one of those records you don’t think about a lot but you appreciate more when you retire and reflect back,” Murray said. “I’ve been struggling this year, and it was only yesterday I found my batting stance again. I was uncomfortable up there of late.”

Murray’s first home run moved him past Dave Kingman on the homer list with 444. His shot in the seventh moved him past Mickey Mantle’s record for home runs from both sides in a game, 10.

Eric Plunk (2-0) worked 3 2/3 innings of three-hit relief, striking out seven for the victory. Larry Casian (0-2) allowed Cleveland to score four runs in the seventh.

New York 4, Seattle 2--Melido Perez pitched the Yankees’ first complete game this season, a six-hitter, and Danny Tartabull hit a two-run homer at New York.

Perez (2-0), who gave up only one hit over the first five innings, walked two and struck out two. It was Perez’s first complete game since a loss to Toronto on Sept. 25, 1992.

“This is the way I want to feel all season,” Perez said. “I felt real strong in the last inning and that’s why they sent me out there.”

Tartabull hit his homer, his fourth, off Chris Bosio (0-3) in the fourth inning after Don Mattingly had walked. Bosio gave up four runs and 10 hits in eight innings. He walked five and struck out three.

Boston 6, Oakland 5--Otis Nixon’s run-scoring double in the ninth off Dennis Eckersley led the Red Sox at Boston.

Pinch-hitter Andre Dawson doubled off Eckersley (0-2) to tie the score, 5-5, with one out in the ninth. He drove in Scott Cooper, who had singled and continued to second when right fielder Ruben Sierra failed to field the ball cleanly.

With Scott Fletcher running for Dawson, Nixon doubled past first base.

Scott Bankhead (2-0) pitched the final two innings for the victory.

Eckersley, who leads major league relievers with 256 saves in the previous six seasons, has failed in his three save opportunities this year.

Milwaukee 6, Chicago 4--Dave Nilsson homered and Turner Ward hit a two-run double at Milwaukee as the Brewers ended the White Sox’s four-game winning streak.

Cal Eldred (2-1) held Chicago to six hits for eight innings and Graeme Lloyd pitched the final two innings to gain his second save of the season.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Philadelphia 6, San Francisco 1--Danny Jackson pitched a four-hitter, and Dave Hollins and Darren Daulton homered to lead the Phillies at San Francisco.

Jackson (2-0), who had retired 22 of 24 batters before the ninth, struck out six and walked three. The complete game was the 39th and first since July 31, 1993, against Pittsburgh.

Jackson, 0-3 with a 9.60 earned-run average against the Giants last year, blanked them after yielding a first-inning run. The Phillies scored three runs in the third off Salomon Torres (0-2).

Montreal 5, San Diego 4--Rookie Cliff Floyd and Marquis Grissom hit consecutive home runs and Moises Alou drove in two runs at San Diego, as the Expos held on for their third consecutive victory.

Expo pitcher Ken Hill (3-1) gave up four runs and eight hits, including two homers, in 7 2/3 innings. He struck out eight and walked one. Wally Whitehurst (1-3), who allowed Floyd and Grissom to hit consecutive pitches for homers in the fifth inning, suffered the loss.