AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Last Word Is Indians’ in Beating Milwaukee

If practice makes perfect, the Cleveland Indians should be approaching perfection after Jim Thome’s two-run home run off Bill Wegman finished a four-run ninth inning and an 8-7 victory Thursday night at Milwaukee.

Thome had homered to lead off the 10th inning to beat Detroit the night before.

Cleveland has won 11 times in 12 games and has 11 victories this season in its last at-bat.

“I was just trying to get the run to tie it,” Thome said. “We do everything right it seems these days, but what I did tonight is indicative of how our entire team has played all season.”

Even starting pitcher Dennis Martinez, unbeaten in five decisions, escaped with his record unscathed after blowing a 4-1 lead.

Albert Belle’s two-run double had chased Graeme Lloyd (0-5), bringing on Wegman, who surrendered Thome’s 11th homer.

“We keep fighting and we believe that we can win any game we’re in,” Cleveland Manager Mike Hargrove said. “I think it shows a lot of character that, even when Dennis has an off-night, we’re going to come through and pull it out.”

Texas 10, Kansas City 9--Rusty Greer hit a leadoff homer in the 10th inning for the Rangers, who overcame a late seven-run deficit to win in Arlington, Tex.

Texas, trailing, 8-1, after the seventh inning, rallied for six runs in the eighth. After Kansas City scored in the ninth for a 9-7 lead, Benji Gil hit a two-run homer to tie it.

Oakland 8, New York 3--Ruben Sierra hit two solo homers and Geronimo Berroa added a two-run shot for the Athletics, who won in New York. The Yankees lost for the 13th time in 16 games.

Mike Harkey (2-4) got his first victory since May 11. He gave up two runs over six innings.

Minnesota 9, Detroit 2--Kevin Tapani gave up two runs, both unearned, in eight innings and struck out seven, and the Twins got home runs from Scott Leius, Pedro Munoz and Rich Becker to win in Minneapolis and end a three-game losing streak.

Baltimore 8, Seattle 2--Jeff Manto hit two two-run home runs and Brady Anderson, Kevin Bass and Cal Ripken Jr. had one each for the Orioles, who won at home.

The Mariners have lost five of the first seven games of a 10-game East Coast trip.