Homers Coming in Bunches for Strawberry

Darryl Strawberry started the series in a 0-for-10 slump and had hit only three home runs.

Three games later, he had eight homers, two of them Thursday in an 8-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

He says he has finally adjusted to major-league pitching after time spent in the minor leagues with St. Paul.

“Once I get into the groove of hitting homers, it seems to come to me. I’m not trying to hit homers,” said Strawberry, who has raised his average to .258 and has 21 runs batted in in 26 games.

Strawberry, who hit three home runs in a 9-2 victory Tuesday night, hit a three-run homer to cap a four-run third inning and added a solo homer in the fifth. It was his eighth home run since joining the Yankees on July 7.

White Sox first baseman Frank Thomas went 0 for 3 with a walk. Thomas, who was thrown out of Wednesday night’s game in the eighth inning by home plate umpire Brian O’Nora for arguing a called third strike, had to be restrained by teammates in the dugout after striking out in the seventh inning against Jeff Nelson.

Thomas pushed Dave Martinez and Robin Ventura out of his way as he yelled at the umpires. He appeared to be yelling at Ventura as the third baseman walked from the on-deck circle to the batter’s box.

“Let’s not make a mountain out of a molehill,” Chicago Manager Terry Bevington said, “but there was real disagreement. Frank and Robin are real good friends. Robin just didn’t want him thrown out of the game again.”

Oakland 2, Kansas City 1--Rookie Don Wengert won his first start since coming off the disabled list as the Athletics ended a three-game losing streak with the victory at Kansas City.

Wengert (5-7) gave up four hits over 6 1/3 innings in his first start since July 23. He went on the disabled list the following day because of a sore right shoulder.

Geronimo Berroa and Jason Giambi had RBIs for Oakland. It was the first time this season that the A’s went three consecutive games without hitting a home run.

Baltimore 6, Milwaukee 4--Eddie Murray moved past Lou Gehrig into sole possession of 15th place on the all-time homer list and the Orioles completed a three-game sweep of the Brewers at Milwaukee.

Murray’s 15th homer of the year and 494th of his career came off reliever Doug Jones in the sixth inning and put Baltimore ahead, 6-2.

Toronto 9, Boston 6--Alex Gonzalez matched personal bests with four hits and four RBIs and Woody Williams won his first start of the year to lead the Blue Jays past the Red Sox at Boston.

Williams (1-0), who was recalled from triple-A Syracuse on Monday, gave up three hits in the first inning, including Darren Bragg’s homer and Mike Stanley’s RBI single. But the Red Sox managed only one more hit off him before he left after five innings.

Cleveland 2, Seattle 1--Chad Ogea gave up only a infield single in eight shutout innings and the Indians completed their first series sweep in Seattle since 1986.

Ogea (6-3) tied a lifetime best with seven strikeouts and had two walks. He defeated Terry Mulholland (0-1), who made his second start since being acquired from Philadelphia on July 31.

Detroit 3, Texas 2--Tony Clark’s RBI single scored Ruben Sierra with the winning run in the ninth inning as the Tigers edged the Rangers at Detroit.

Sierra looped a one-out double to right-center field in the ninth inning. Bob Higginson was intentionally walked before Clark ripped a 2-1 pitch to center field and Sierra beat the throw home.