AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Murray, Martinez Prosper in Homecoming

It was like old times in Baltimore--sort of.

Eddie Murray homered and Dennis Martinez pitched a three-hitter, but the home team lost.

Still, Murray talked to no one. Some things never change.

Murray and Martinez teamed to help the Cleveland Indians end a four-game losing streak Friday night with a 4-2 victory. Carlos Baerga doubled home two runs in the 10th inning to make it a perfect homecoming for Martinez, who last pitched in Baltimore in 1986.

Martinez, who spent a decade with the Orioles, was given a lengthy standing ovation when he took the mound in the first inning.

“I had to tip my hat because otherwise they would never sit down,” Martinez said. “That was a very emotional time. I almost started getting tears. . . . I think that was what really inspired me to pitch the way I did tonight.”

Martinez (1-3), who spent the previous eight seasons with Montreal, retired 14 in a row before giving up a one-out walk in the 10th, won in the American League for the first time since September of 1985. He walked four and struck out nine in his 11th three-hitter.

Murray, playing his first regular-season game in Baltimore since leaving the Orioles after the 1988 season, also got a lengthy standing ovation from the sellout crowd. In his second at-bat, he hit his seventh homer.

“A changeup,” Baltimore starter Mike Mussina said. “I think he set me up by looking bad on the first two. He’s not going to the Hall of Fame for no reason.”

Murray has homered in 31 different ballparks, one short of the record shared by Frank Robinson and Rusty Staub.

New York 3, Boston 1--The opposition has been lost in the glare of the Boston Red Sox’s major league-best record over the season’s first month, but they’re playing back in the East. The glare in New York is on the Yankees.

Jimmy Key pitched a four-hitter for his first complete game of the season as New York stopped the Red Sox’s seven-game winning streak. Boston had won eight of 10 and was 20-7 as the night began, but the record was largely compiled against the Western Division.

Key (5-1) struck out two and walked none in his first complete game since Aug. 5. He is 11-5 against the Red Sox.

Paul O’Neill walked in his first at-bat against Aaron Sele (3-1), had an RBI single in a three-run fourth inning and singled leading off the sixth. He hit into a double play ending the eighth but still increased his major league-leading average to .455.

Milwaukee 7, Toronto 1--Cal Eldred pitched a three-hitter, and Darryl Hamilton and Kevin Seitzer each drove in two runs to lead the Brewers at Toronto.

Eldred (3-3) gave up a two-out single to Paul Molitor in the first inning but retired 13 in a row before Pat Borders’ leadoff double in the sixth. He struck out three in his first complete game of the season.

The Blue Jays have lost three in a row and five of their last six.

Losing pitcher Dave Stewart (2-3) removed himself in the sixth inning after suffering a pulled groin muscle.

Detroit 9, Seattle 4--Tony Phillips’ two-run double keyed a four-run second inning, and Randy Johnson’s problems at Tiger Stadium continued.

Johnson (2-3), the only pitcher to no-hit the Tigers in the last 21 years, has never won at Tiger Stadium. He is 0-4 with an 8.17 earned-run average in his five starts in Detroit.

The loss dropped the Mariners to 2-12 on the road.

Texas 7, Minnesota 0--Rookie Rick Helling gave up nine hits in his first major league shutout and complete game, leading the Rangers at Arlington, Tex.

David Hulse singled home the go-ahead run in the sixth inning, and Will Clark drove in two runs for the Rangers.

Helling (3-0) struck out two and walked one as the Rangers won for the seventh time in 10 games.

Kansas City 6, Chicago 5--Felix Jose drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning as the Royals rallied at Chicago.

Kansas City trailed, 5-1, entering the seventh before tying the score on Gary Gaetti’s three-run homer and Vince Coleman’s sacrifice fly.

The Royals have won three games in a row and five of their last six.