Red Sox Make It a Walk in the Park for Indians

Every now and then, the Cleveland Indians took a swing. Mostly, they just stood and watched.

Aided by nine walks, the Indians came from behind to defeat the reeling Boston Red Sox, 11-7, on Sunday at Cleveland as Carlos Baerga drove in five runs and Manny Ramirez hit two homers.

“That was disgraceful to be seen in the major leagues,” said Boston Manager Kevin Kennedy, whose team has lost 10 of 11 games. “It really is a helpless feeling to see all those walks.”

Baerga’s big hit was a three-run double, capping a five-run sixth, ruining what had been a 5-2 lead for Boston’s Roger Clemens.

Clemens, who did not get a decision, is off to the worst start of his career at 0-3 after five starts.

Clemens left after sandwiching two walks around a fly ball, and reliever Brad Pennington (0-2) walked Kenny Lofton, loading the bases. Stan Belinda then walked Julio Franco, also on four pitches, forcing in a run.

Baerga followed with his three-run double, putting Cleveland ahead, 7-5. Four more walks led to four more runs in the seventh.

Texas 9, Baltimore 6--Dean Palmer hit a grand slam and a two-run homer, and the Rangers overcame another leadoff home run by Brady Anderson to defeat the Orioles at Arlington, Texas.

Anderson led off the first inning with a homer for the fourth consecutive game.

New York 9, Minnesota 5--Kenny Rogers, finally getting a chance to pitch for his new team, held the Twins hitless until the sixth inning at Minneapolis.

Rogers (1-0) gave up only an infield hit, worked around five walks and did not yield a run in 5 1/3 innings of his Yankee debut.

Signed to a $20-million, four-year contract in January, Rogers lost his spot in the rotation after a poor showing in the exhibition season and began the year in the bullpen.

Milwaukee 5, Kansas City 4--Jeff Cirillo singled in the go-ahead run as the Brewers rallied for four runs in the eighth inning and won at Kansas City for their seventh consecutive victory.

With Kansas City leading, 4-1, Kevin Seitzer singled, Greg Vaughn walked and John Jaha singled, loading the bases.

Jose Valentin hit a run-scoring single, chasing Hipolito Pichardo, and Jesse Levis tied the game with his two-run single off Jeff Montgomery. Cirillo, who had three hits and two runs batted in, then lined a single to center.

Oakland 6, Chicago 5--Pinch-hitter Pedro Munoz doubled home the go-ahead run in the seventh inning as the Athletics defeated the White Sox at Oakland.

Frank Thomas, Chris Snopek and Ron Karkovice homered for the White Sox, who had won three in a row.

Seattle 9, Toronto 5--Ken Griffey Jr. and Edgar Martinez twice hit consecutive home runs off Erik Hanson (2-3), leading Randy Johnson and the Mariners at Seattle.

Though not his usual, overpowering self, Johnson (4-0) stopped a two-game Seattle losing streak for the third time this year. He gave up four runs, one of them unearned, and struck out six in five innings.