Murray a Smash Hit in Baltimore Return

The Baltimore Orioles handed out jersey No. 33 again Monday, seven years after retiring the number worn by one of the finest players in franchise history.

Eddie Murray gleefully accepted the uniform from Manager Davey Johnson, then prepared for his first game as an Oriole since 1988.

It was as if he had never left. Murray, 40, hit the 492nd home run of his career and went one for four in a 9-5 loss to the Minnesota Twins at Baltimore.

“I didn’t think it was possible [to return],” Murray said. “Once I was gone, I didn’t think about it again. The fondest memory is having my uniform retired, and now it’s unretired. I’m here again, and I’m pretty happy right now.”

Murray, obtained from the Cleveland Indians on Sunday for Kent Mercker, needs eight homers to join Willie Mays and Hank Aaron as the only players in history to have 500 homers and 3,000 hits.

Seattle 8, Milwaukee 3--Doug Strange hit his first career grand slam, highlighting a six-run rally in the eighth inning that led the Mariners over the Brewers at Seattle.

Rookie Matt Wagner (3-2) pitched a five-hitter for his first complete game.

Brewer starter Ben McDonald left after seven innings with a 3-2 lead. Reliever Graeme Lloyd retired Ken Griffey Jr., but walked Jay Buhner and was replaced by Jose Mercedes (0-2).

Mercedes gave up a pinch-double to Darren Bragg and walked Dan Wilson to load the bases. Strange homered on the first pitch.

Cleveland 4, Toronto 2--Albert Belle’s fly ball to left-center turned into a three-run double when Blue Jay outfielders Joe Carter and Otis Nixon bumped into each other, helping the Indians win at Toronto.

Belle tripled, doubled, singled and drove in four runs. Orel Hershiser (10-6) gave up four hits in seven innings and struck out seven.

Texas 6, New York 1--Juan Gonzalez and Dean Palmer hit two-run homers and Ken Hill pitched a six-hitter at New York to send the Yankees to their fifth loss in six games.

Oakland 6, Chicago 5--Terry Steinbach hit two home runs for the second consecutive game and pinch-runner Damon Mashore scored from second base on Geronimo Berroa’s infield hit in the ninth inning to lead the Athletics past the White Sox at Chicago.

Oakland has homered in 18 consecutive games.

Kansas City 5, Boston 2--Tim Belcher pitched a six-hitter and Bip Roberts singled home the tiebreaking run in the seventh inning to lead the Royals past the Red Sox at Boston.

Belcher (9-5) walked one and struck out four in his first complete game this season.

Tom Gordon (7-5) lost in his first appearance against his former team. He gave up 10 hits and three earned runs in 8 1/3 innings.