Valentin Makes Up at Plate

Jose Valentin hasn’t been his reliable self in the field this season. Thankfully for the Milwaukee Brewers, he hasn’t been his usual self at the plate, either.

Valentin made his seventh error Wednesday but matched his career high with four runs batted in, and the Brewers chased David Cone early in an 8-4 victory over the New York Yankees for a sweep of their two-game series at Milwaukee.

Valentin, who got three hits right-handed Tuesday night, had two hits from the left side Wednesday with a two-run double off Cone and a two-run single off Mariano Rivera. He raised his batting average to .341--113 points higher than his career average.

Baltimore 6, Boston 5--The Red Sox dropped to 2-12, the worst start in the 96-year history of the franchise, losing to the Orioles on B.J. Surhoff’s game-winning single in the 12th inning at Baltimore.

Roberto Alomar had four hits, including a homer, and scored the decisive run for the Orioles. Boston has lost seven in a row, which is the franchise’s longest streak since an 11-game skid in 1994.

Texas 12, Oakland 1--Ken Hill pitched a four-hitter and Ivan Rodriguez’s two-run double highlighted a five-run second inning for the Rangers at Arlington, Texas.

In pitching the Rangers’ first complete game this season, Hill (3-1) walked three and struck out nine in his first career start against the Athletics.

“Any time you can give the bullpen a day off it’s great,” said Hill, who pitched the 12th complete game of his career.

“I felt strong from beginning to end.”

Minnesota 9, Cleveland 8--Pat Meares hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning at Minneapolis as the Twins overcame a five-run deficit to end the Indians’ five-game winning streak.

Charles Nagy, trying for his first win in six starts at the Metrodome, took a 7-2 lead in the fifth, but Chuck Knoblauch’s run-scoring triple triggered the Indians’ rally.

Chicago 3, Kansas City 1--Dave Martinez and Harold Baines homered as Alex Fernandez pitched the White Sox over the Royals at Kansas City.

Fernandez (2-1), who improved to 5-0 at Kansas City, gave up eight hits, struck out six and walked three in seven innings.

Roberto Hernandez pitched the ninth for his third save.

Seattle 8, Detroit 3--Joey Cora doubled home the go-ahead run in a five-run rally in the eighth inning as the Mariners extended their winning streak to seven.

Detroit pitchers walked eight, including seven in the seventh and eighth innings.