AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Calm Radke Quiets Indians’ Bats in Victory

Minnesota rookie pitcher Brad Radke, nervous in his first appearance last week, got on the hot-hitting Cleveland Indians’ nerves Saturday afternoon.

Radke gave up two runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings of a 5-2 victory over the Indians at Cleveland, where a streak of 29 consecutive sellouts ended with a crowd of 37,325.

“I wasn’t as nervous as I was last weekend. I was a little nervous, but much more focused,” said Radke (1-0), who had given up four runs in three innings of relief against Baltimore last Saturday.

“I wanted to go right at them,” Radke said of the Cleveland hitters. “That’s the type of pitcher I am.”

Pat Meares homered and Scott Leius doubled home two runs for the Twins, who ended their string of consecutive losses at Jacobs Field at six. Meares and Kirby Puckett each had three hits.

Boston 5, Detroit 3--Lee Tinsley and Tim Naehring extended season-long hitting streaks to 10 games and each drove in a run as the Red Sox won at Detroit.

Aaron Sele overcame six walks in five innings for the victory. Five of the walks came with two outs, including three in the third inning.

Stan Belinda, in his first appearance of the season, struck out the side in the ninth for a save. He was activated earlier in the day after an injury rehabilitation assignment.

Sean Bergman took the loss, walking six in three-plus innings, in the seventh loss in 10 games for the Tigers. It also spoiled the return of Detroit shortstop Alan Trammell, who played in the first game of his 19th big league season after leaving the disabled list Friday. He had hits in his first two at-bats, including an RBI single in a three-run third inning.

Milwaukee 5, New York 2--Ricky Bones pitched 7 2/3 shutout innings and Greg Vaughn and David Hulse had two RBIs each in the Brewers’ victory at New York.

Bones (2-0), making his third start of the season, struck out six and walked one before being relieved by Graeme Lloyd in the eighth inning. The two combined on a seven-hitter, Lloyd getting his third save.

Jim Leyritz hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning to ruin Milwaukee’s shutout bid.

Toronto 7, Baltimore 3--Danny Darwin got his first victory in nearly a year, benefiting from a six-run second inning that carried the Blue Jays at Baltimore.

Randy Knorr homered and Joe Carter had three hits for the Blue Jays. Rafael Palmeiro had a two-run homer for the Orioles, who stranded 13 runners.

Toronto sent 11 batters to the plate in the second inning, getting three walks and five hits, including a two-run single by Paul Molitor.

Texas 4, Oakland 2--Kenny Rogers won for the first time since pitching a perfect game last season, and Benji Gil homered for the second game in a row in leading the Rangers at Oakland.

Rogers had lost four consecutive decisions since beating the Angels on a perfect game last July 28. Matt Whiteside pitched a scoreless eighth and Jeff Russell worked the ninth for his second save.

Gil continued a torrid pace that has produced three homers, two doubles and a single in his last eight at-bats. He also doubled against loser Mike Harkey.

Chicago 7, Kansas City 4--Tim Raines had two doubles, a triple and three RBIs at Kansas City to push the White Sox to their second victory in nine games.

Chicago also got a two-run homer from Ron Karkovice and one with the bases empty from Warren Newson, who entered the game in the second inning when Mike Devereaux strained his groin. Chicago scored six of its runs after two were out.

Wilson Alvarez (1-1) worked seven innings, yielding five hits and four runs. Roberto Hernandez pitched the ninth inning for the White Sox’s first save.

Chicago got four runs in the second inning off Mark Gubicza (1-2), who lasted only 3 2/3 innings.