AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Record 37th Save in Row for Indians’ Mesa

Cleveland reliever Jose Mesa set a single-season major league record Sunday with his 37th save in 37 chances as the Indians rallied for five runs in the eighth inning to beat the Milwaukee Brewers, 8-5, at Cleveland.

Mesa, who hasn’t allowed an earned run since June 8, pitched a scoreless ninth to surpass Dennis Eckersley’s single-season mark of 36 consecutive saves without a blown opportunity set in 1992. San Francisco’s Rod Beck converted a record 41 in a row over three seasons from 1993-95.

Said Cleveland Manager Mike Hargrove: “[Pitching coach] Mark Wiley looked at me after two outs and said, ‘You realize he’s in uncharted territory. Nobody in the history of this game has been where he’s about to be.’ I think it’s the most improbable thing anybody can imagine.”

Coming into this season, Mesa, 29, had only two saves to his name, having gone two for six in save situations last year. For four seasons before that and for most of his minor league career, he was a so-so starter who tended to wear out early.

Now, he works one inning--no more, no less--and can let loose with the 98-m.p.h. fastball that has enchanted the Indians since they acquired him from Baltimore in a 1992 trade. He has pitched exactly one inning in each of his last 40 appearances.

“When you’re just coming in for one inning, you’re coming in and giving it everything you’ve got,” Mesa said. “This is the first time I’ve done it, and so far I’ve had success. I like it right now. I don’t know how long it’s going to last.”

Paul Sorrento and Wayne Kirby each drove in two runs for the Indians in the eighth inning as they overcame a 5-3 deficit. Sorrento hit a two-out, bases-loaded double off Steve Sparks (7-7) and Kirby followed with a pinch single off Rob Dibble.

Boston 7, Seattle 6--Rheal Cormier pitched seven strong innings and Mo Vaughn hit a two-run double as the Red Sox won their seventh series in a row, beating the Mariners at Seattle.

It was the AL East-leading Red Sox’s 16th victory in 18 games.

Seattle’s Ken Griffey Jr., last season’s AL home-run leader, led off the eighth inning with his first home run since coming off the disabled list last week.

Texas 6, Chicago 4--Otis Nixon capped a six-run first inning with a two-run double that sent Kenny Rogers and the Rangers on the way to victory at Chicago.

Rogers (12-5), won his third consecutive decision, giving up seven hits, walking one and striking out five over 7 1/3 innings. Roger McDowell pitched the final 1 2/3 innings for his fourth save.

Toronto 4, Kansas City 3--John Olerud hit the Blue Jays’ second game-winning pinch-single in as many days, driving in Ed Sprague in the bottom of the ninth as Toronto won at home.

Joe Carter homered twice and Candy Maldonado once for the Blue Jays, and Michael Tucker hit a three-run homer for Kansas City.

Mike Timlin (4-1) threw a scoreless ninth in relief of Pat Hentgen for the win.

Oakland 6, Baltimore 3--Doug Johns, replacing the released Ron Darling, allowed two hits in 5 2/3 innings in his second major league start as the Athletics defeated the Orioles at Oakland.

Johns (1-0) allowed three runs, all scoring on ground balls in the sixth inning. Dennis Eckersley pitched the ninth for his 23rd save. Stan Javier had two run-scoring singles and a run-scoring double for Oakland, which scored four runs in the second to knock out Scott Erickson (8-10).

Minnesota 8, Detroit 7--Chip Hale’s one-out homer in the top of the 10th, the seventh homer of the game, lifted the Twins to victory over the Tigers at Detroit.

Kirby Puckett and Rich Hale also hit home runs for the Twins. Puckett’s homer was the 200th of his career. Bobby Higginson hit two homers and Cecil Fielder and Lou Whitaker one apiece for Detroit.