AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Indians’ Biggest Lead Now an Even Dozen

The Cleveland Indians were expecting a veteran pitching staff headed by Dennis Martinez and Orel Hershiser to lead them to the American League Central Division title.

The experienced fellows were doing a pretty good job until Hershiser went on the disabled list.

That gave rookie Chad Ogea a chance, and that’s all the 24-year-old right-hander needed. As a starter, he has been sensational and the Indians are running away with the division.

Given ample offensive support Thursday from a couple of all-stars, Ogea held the Seattle Mariners to three hits, retired the last 17 batters in an 8-1 victory at Cleveland. That improved his record to 5-1 and stretched the Indians’ lead over Kansas City to 12 games, the biggest they have held in 94 seasons.

All-stars Manny Ramirez and Albert Belle made life miserable for former Dodger Tim Belcher. Ramirez hit a solo homer in the second and broke the 1-1 tie with a three-run homer in the fourth. It was his 18th home run, one more than in 91 games as as a rookie last year. Belle finished off Belcher with a two-run homer in the eighth.

It was only the sixth major league start for Ogea, who was coming off his only poor effort. After Tino Martinez homered in the fourth to tie the score, Ogea completely throttled the Mariners.

“I’m not worrying about individual accomplishments,” Ogea said. “I’m putting the team first. But it was nice to get the complete game. I won’t think about rookie honors.”

Detroit 12, Kansas City 5--The race may be about over in the Central Division, but there appears to be one developing in the East.

Cecil Fielder and Chad Curtis hit two-run home runs at Detroit to lead the surging Tigers to their fourth victory in a row and their seventh in nine games to move within three games of the Boston Red Sox.

Chris Haney held a 4-1 lead before the Tigers erupted in the fifth for the first of two five-run innings. Fielder highlighted the rally with his 20th home run and 50th run batted in.

Seven singles sparked the five-run seventh.

Minnesota 6, Boston 4--On the night relief ace Rick Aguilera was traded to Boston, Dave Stevens took over the Twins’ closer role at Minneapolis and recorded the first save of his career.

Stevens got the last out to quell a Red Sox rally in the ninth.

Rookie Brad Radke gave up four solo home runs but improved his record to 5-7.

Milwaukee 5, Oakland 2--About 30 of Scott Karl’s close friends and family members were on hand at Oakland to see him gain his first major league victory. They also saw A’s pitcher Todd Stottlemyre and Manager Tony La Russa lose their cool.

The A’s were angry at at a check-swing call with two strikes on Greg Vaughn in the sixth inning. Shortly thereafter, Stottlemyre gave up a three-run double to B.J. Surhoff, and that’s all Karl (1-0) needed. In his second start, he went six innings, giving up two runs and six hits.

Baltimore 2, Chicago 1--Pinch-hitter Kevin Bass followed an intentional walk to Cal Ripken Jr. with a single for the go-ahead run in the eighth inning at Chicago.

Texas 5, New York 2--Juan Gonzalez and Mickey Tettleton hit consecutive home runs in the first inning at Arlington and Ivan Rodriguez later hit a two-run home run.

Gonzalez’s 435-foot blast was the 150th of his career and 10th in 31 games this season.