AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : McDonald Rocked in Oriole Loss

Alex Diaz hit his first major league home run, off Ben McDonald, in an eight-run second inning that carried the Milwaukee Brewers past the Orioles, 9-2, Wednesday night at Baltimore.

The Brewers got nine hits and two walks in the second off McDonald (10-5) and Mark Williamson. Diaz hit a three-run homer and singled, and Matt Mieske and Dave Nilsson also had two hits in the inning.

B.J. Surhoff hit his fourth homer for the Brewers, who have won six of eight.

Cal Eldred (8-7) pitched a three-hitter, walking four and striking out four in his fourth complete game.

McDonald allowed eight runs and seven hits in 1 2/3 innings. It was his shortest stint of the season and matched the third-shortest of his career.

Cleveland 9, Detroit 6--Jim Thome hit two home runs for the first time in his career, and Sandy Alomar homered for the third consecutive game, powering the Indians past the Tigers in Detroit.

The American League Central-leading Indians, whose 10-game winning streak was snapped Tuesday night in Detroit, will play their next 11 games at home, where they have won a club-record 19 in a row.

Dennis Martinez (6-4) pitched 6 1/3 innings for his fifth victory in his last eight starts.

John Doherty (6-5) was the loser.

New York 9, Minnesota 2--Mike Gallego’s run-scoring single ignited a seven-run seventh inning, carrying the Yankees to a victory over the Twins and a three-game sweep in New York.

Scott Kamieniecki and Kevin Tapani were locked in a scoreless duel until the seventh, when the Twins scored on Alex Cole’s sacrifice fly to take a 1-0 lead.

But Bernie Williams doubled to lead off the bottom of the inning, and Tapani (8-4) walked Randy Velarde before Gallego’s single tied the score and Mark Guthrie relieved Tapani.

The ensuing six-run barrage included Jim Leyritz’s two-run single and Paul O’Neill two-run homer.

Plate Umpire Larry Barnett issued a warning to both benches after Kamieniecki hit Shane Mack in the left wrist with a pitch in the fourth and Tapani hit Leyritz leading off the New York fourth.

Boston 3, Toronto 2--Tom Brunansky drove in two runs and the Red Sox completed a three-game sweep at Toronto.

The Red Sox had lost 11 in a row, their longest skid since 1932, before sweeping Toronto.

The Blue Jays have lost five in a row and eight of nine.

Nate Minchey (1-2), who entered with a 21.60 ERA, allowed four hits and struck out seven in five innings.

Dave Stewart (5-6) was the loser.

Kansas City 10, Oakland 1--Bob Hamelin and Felix Jose homered, helping Tom Gordon and the Royals defeat the Athletics at Oakland.

Gordon (7-4) pitched 6 1/3 innings and gave up six hits, including Mark McGwire’s home run. He escaped his biggest jam by striking out Terry Steinbach with the bases loaded to end the first.

Chicago 4, Texas 0--Wilson Alvarez, a loser of his previous two decisions after winning a club-record 15 in a row, got another victory by allowing two hits over eight innings as the White Sox beat the Rangers at Chicago.

Alvarez (9-2) earned his first victory since May 27.