Lofton’s Catch Ignites Indians in 14-2 Victory

Kenny Lofton has started plenty of rallies with his bat lately. On Sunday, he started one with his glove.

Lofton reached over the center-field fence in the eighth inning and robbed B.J. Surhoff of what would have been a go-ahead, two-run homer. In the bottom of the inning, the Indians turned a 3-2 game into a blowout, scoring 11 runs with two outs to defeat the Baltimore Orioles, 14-2, at Cleveland.

Lofton also homered for the second time in three days and Jim Thome drove in four runs, including a three-run homer in the eighth, Cleveland’s biggest inning since April 10, 1977.

“I’ve seen some great catches,” Cleveland Manager Mike Hargrove said. “But I don’t think I’ve seen one in that situation better than Kenny’s.”

Brian Anderson (1-1) gave up one run on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings after being called up from triple-A Buffalo right before the game to start for the injured Dennis Martinez, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained elbow tendon.

New York 5, Kansas City 3--Andy Pettitte became the league’s first 16-game winner, and Mariano Duncan had two doubles and drove in two runs for the Yankees at Kansas City.

Pettitte (16-6), who improved his record to 10-0 in day starts, struck out a career-high 11 as he improved to 4-0 against Kansas City, giving up one run and four hits in seven innings with one walk.

Boston 13, Minnesota 6--Reggie Jefferson drove in four runs with a triple and a sacrifice fly and Mo Vaughn homered twice for the Red Sox at Boston.

Vaughn homered in the second and eighth innings, raising his season total to 33 with his 13th career multi-homer game, his fourth this season.

Seattle 9, Detroit 3--Jay Buhner hit his 200th career homer, and the Mariners ended the Tigers’ six-game winning streak with the victory at Detroit.

Buhner and Alex Rodriguez drove in three runs each and Bob Wolcott (7-8) won for the first time in four starts, giving up two runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings with six strikeouts and a walk.

Oakland 4, Milwaukee 2--Dave Telgheder got his first American League victory and Terry Steinbach hit a key two-run double to lead the Athletics over the Brewers at Oakland .

Telgheder (1-2) won for the first time in five starts, giving up one run and six hits in seven innings. He struck out five and walked one as the Athletics stopped a three-game losing streak.

Texas 9, Chicago 5--Mickey Tettleton hit two home runs and Bobby Witt (10-8) gave up one run and nine hits in 7 1/3 innings in the Rangers victory at Arlington, Tex.

Harold Baines hit his 12th career grand slam in the eighth inning to make him second among active players behind Eddie Murray’s 17.

James Baldwin (9-2), who had won six consecutive decisions since May 13, gave up seven runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings.