Indians Now Must Deal With Offense

The Cleveland Indians traded Carlos Baerga for defense. On Tuesday, it looked like their offense left, too.

The Indians’ new-look lineup was shut down by Huck Flener, a 27-year-old rookie, as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Indians, 3-1, at Cleveland.

Flener gave up four hits in 7 1/3 innings. He walked three, struck out one and retired 13 of the last 15 batters he faced.

Cleveland, which traded Carlos Baerga to the New York Mets on Monday, had newly acquired Jeff Kent at second base, while Jose Vizcaino played shortstop for the injured Omar Vizquel.

It didn’t matter to Flener whom he was facing. He was out of baseball in 1994 after having elbow surgery and thought he might never pitch again. Flener, the 258th selection in the June 1990 free-agent draft, was making his fourth start this season since being called up from triple-A Syracuse. Prior to this year, the left-hander had pitched 6 2/3 innings in the big leagues.

“After being hurt and having a year taken from me, I’m much more appreciative now,” Flener said. “Now I can play in beautiful yards like this, and I’m very happy about that.”

Dennis Martinez (9-6) took the loss, giving up six hits in five innings.

Texas 15, New York 2--Juan Gonzalez homered twice and went five for five, and Ivan Rodriguez drove in four runs as the Rangers battered Yankee starter Andy Pettitte at Arlington, Tex.

Gonzalez has 31 homers this season and 14 in July, a club record for any month.

Texas ripped Pettitte (15-6) for 10 runs in 2 2/3 innings and thwarted his attempt to become the AL’s first 16-game winner.

Bobby Witt (9-8) pitched a five-hitter for his first complete game this season.

Baltimore 16, Minnesota 4--Rafael Palmeiro broke out of a slump with three hits and three runs batted in, and the Orioles set a team record with nine doubles in routing the Twins at Minneapolis.

Palmeiro, Bobby Bonilla and Greg Zaun each had two doubles as the Orioles scored their most runs of the season. Palmeiro, who came in batting .203 in his last 22 games, doubled home two runs in a five-run first inning against Twin starter Frank Rodriguez.

Chicago 2, Oakland 1--Rookie James Baldwin gave up one hit over eight innings and Harold Baines homered to lift the White Sox past the Athletics at Oakland.

Baldwin (9-1) gave up only a fourth-inning bloop single. He struck out seven and walked one.

Roberto Hernandez pitched a shaky ninth for his 30th save.

Kansas City 7, Boston 0--Rookie Jose Rosado pitched a three-hitter, extending his scoreless streak to 18 innings and leading the Royals over the Red Sox at Kansas City.

Rosado (2-1), who pitched 7 2/3 shutout innings against New York in his last start before leaving with severe cramps in his hand, struck out one and walked three.

Boston starter Vaughn Eshelman (4-3) gave up seven runs--five of them earned--in an emergency start. He replaced Jamie Moyer, who was traded to Seattle hours before the game.

Seattle 6-3, Milwaukee 5-4--Jose Valentin and Dave Nilsson hit back-to-back home runs to highlight a four-run sixth inning that gave the Brewers a split of their doubleheader against the Mariners at Milwaukee.

In the opener, Ken Griffey Jr. went three for four and hit his 32nd homer, a three-run shot.

Tim VanEgmond (1-1) held the Mariners to five hits through 7 1/3 innings in the second game. He struck out four and walked one to win for the first time since Aug. 3, 1994 while with Boston.

Trailing, 2-0, in the sixth inning of the second game, Milwaukee’s Jeff Cirillo singled off Bob Wolcott (6-8). Valentin, who also had a homer in the first game, hit his 16th homer before Nilsson followed with his 13th.