Indians Get Veteran Help, Beat Blue Jays

A couple of elder statesmen who have been struggling this season righted themselves Friday night in Toronto.

Orel Hershiser figures he’s still not quite throwing the way he’s capable. He’s getting closer, though.

Hershiser scattered eight hits over seven innings for Cleveland, which beat the Blue Jays, 6-3, for its 12th victory in 14 games.

Eddie Murray, also struggling early, hit a two-run, bases-loaded single in the third inning, and Manny Ramirez followed with a run-scoring single for a 5-0 lead.

Hershiser (2-2) made it stand up, with a little late-inning help.

“It’s just not coming as naturally as it has,” he said. “But I just have to keep working. If it doesn’t come around, you get traded.”

Not likely, given his track record.

“Earlier this season he was rushing a bit,” Indian Manager Mike Hargrove said. “He was getting his body out in front and dragging his arm. That hurt his control. But his arm strength is good and his velocity is right about where it was at this time last year.”

Hershiser struck out six and didn’t walk a batter, giving way to Erik Plunk, who struck out two in a perfect eighth inning.

Jose Mesa pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his eighth save in eight chances.

Murray did what he does best.

“He knows how to drive in runs,” Hargrove said. “But that’s what makes Eddie special. He has that mind-set.”

The Indians took advantage of two errors to score two unearned runs in the second inning, helping Hershiser.

It’s something Cleveland pitchers have gotten used to because the Indians have scored 98 runs over their last 13 games.

“Very nice when your team jumps out to a lead like that,” he said. “After that I was able to just let the ball go.”

Erik Hanson (2-4) struggled early, then settled down, giving up five runs--three earned--in eight innings for the Blue Jays, who lost their third in a row and seventh in their last eight home games. He retired 15 of the last 16 batters he faced.

Seattle 6, Milwaukee 5--Randy Johnson left in the fourth inning because of a stiff lower back, but his Mariners still won in Milwaukee when Luis Sojo scored on a double-play grounder in the ninth inning.

Johnson (4-0) left after 3 2/3 innings, and the Mariners said he will be examined today.

Cold weather might have contributed to his problems. The temperature was 47 degrees at game time but fell as a cold front moved in with winds of 15-20 mph.

Detroit 14, Oakland 5--Danny Bautista, John Flaherty and Chris Gomez each drove in three runs at Detroit for the Tigers, who ended an eight-game losing streak and Oakland’s five-game winning streak.

Texas 5, Baltimore 4--Will Clark broke a tie with a two-run double in the seventh inning in Baltimore for the Rangers, who ended a four-game losing streak and improved to 4-0 against the Orioles.

Kansas City 4, Boston 3--The Royals extended Roger Clemens’ (0-4) worst start ever, even though he struck out 11 in seven innings and gave up only five hits in Boston.

New York 5, Minnesota 4--Bernie Williams hit a grand slam that capped a five-run sixth inning for the Yankees in a victory in New York.

Williams’ homer, his fourth of the season and third grand slam of his career, came off Twin starter Brad Radke (3-3).