Royals Offset Fielder’s Initial Power Play

Cecil Fielder’s 420-foot home run--his first for New York--wasn’t enough Friday to beat a dribbler down the third-base line by Kansas City’s scrawny second baseman Keith Lockhart.

Fielder homered leading off the 10th after Dwight Gooden and Kevin Appier had battled to a scoreless tie after nine innings, and the Yankees added two more on Derek Jeter’s inside-the-park homer.

But Lockhart’s double against reliever Mariano Rivera drove in the final two runs in a four-run Kansas City 10th as the Royals won, 4-3, at Kansas City.

“My first thought was to drive one in the gap,” Lockhart said. “But the first pitch was about 100 mph. I don’t know if it was really that hard, but it sure seemed like 100 mph. He throws hard.

“So I thought, ‘Let’s just try to slap it to left.’ He threw another fastball that got in on me. I saw it was going right toward the bag and I was hoping it would either go over it or just inside it.”

It went inside. Jose Offerman, who singled in one run, hesitated at third as left fielder Gerald Williams fielded the ball and threw to second to try and catch Lockhart.

Offerman took off as soon as he saw the throw.

“I was waiting to see him throw to second,” Offerman said. “I believe they never expected me to go home in that situation.”

Offerman barely reached around catcher Joe Girardi’s sweeping tag to score, capping a wild inning.

Fielder, acquired Wednesday from Detroit for Ruben Sierra and a minor league pitcher, belted a shot into the left-center field water display against Jeff Montgomery (3-6).

Cleveland 11, Baltimore 1--Eddie Murray, traded from the Indians to the Orioles for Kent Mercker last week, returned to Cleveland and went hitless as the Indians registered their 10th consecutive home victory over the Orioles.

Kenny Lofton had four hits, including a two-run homer, and was a double short of hitting for the cycle. Albert Belle hit his 37th home run and Orel Hershiser (11-7) gave up two hits in seven innings.

Chicago 9, Texas 0--Alex Fernandez pitched a three-hitter for his first shutout since last September and Harold Baines went four-for-five with four RBIs as the White Sox beat the Rangers at Arlington, Tex.

Fernandez (11-7) struck out eight and walked one in his ninth career shutout and third complete game this season.

Detroit 8, Seattle 2--Travis Fryman’s grand slam highlighted a six-run seventh inning that helped the Tigers extend their season-high winning streak to five games with a victory over the Mariners at Detroit.

Fryman’s fourth career grand slam, the Tigers’ second in two games, highlighted Detroit’s two-out rally that broke a 2-2 tie in the seventh.

Boston 11, Minnesota 10--Troy O’Leary hit a two-out, two-run triple off center fielder Rich Becker’s glove, capping a four-run rally in the ninth inning as the Red Sox beat the Twins at Boston.

Twins reliever Dan Naulty (3-2) took a 10-7 lead into the ninth and retired the first two batters. Tim Naehring walked and Reggie Jefferson followed with his fourth hit, a 445-foot homer to dead center.

After Scott Hatteberg singled and Lee Tinsley walked, O’Leary hit a drive to deep right-center that sent Becker running toward the short fence in front of the bullpen. Becker pulled up as he approached the wall, and the ball deflected off his glove.

Milwaukee 4, Oakland 3-- David Hulse hit a two-out, run-scoring single in the 10th inning as the Brewers won at Oakland.

Oakland’s Mark McGwire, leading the majors with 38 home runs, returned from a five-game absence because of back problems and had two singles and walked twice.