Maddux Pitches In for Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox moved over .500 for the first time this season, overcoming Ken Griffey Jr.’s 40th home run to defeat the Seattle Mariners, 8-5, on Sunday at Boston.

Mike Maddux (2-1) pitched the Red Sox to their 19th victory in 25 games, in only his third start of the season. He pitched seven innings and gave up five hits. Mark Whiten homered in the seventh for the lone run off Maddux.

Alex Rodriguez and Griffey hit consecutive home runs in the eighth. The Mariners set a major league record by connecting for consecutive homers for the 17th time this season, breaking the mark of the 1977 Red Sox and 1982 Milwaukee Brewers.

Cleveland 8, Milwaukee 5--Albert Belle’s two-run single in the seventh inning helped the Indians come back from a four-run deficit at Cleveland.

Belle came up after Jim Thome was intentionally walked to load the bases. After Doug Jones relieved, Belle hit the first pitch through a huge hole between first and second, beating the Brewers’ strategy and their shift. Second baseman Fernando Vina was playing almost behind second base.

The five-run rally in the seventh helped the Indians avoid getting swept by Milwaukee in Cleveland for the first time since 1980.

Texas 13, Minnesota 2--The Rangers gave rookie pitcher Travis Miller a rude welcome to the major leagues, tagging him for seven runs in the first inning at Minneapolis.

Rusty Greer and David Valle each hit two-run homers against Miller, called up last week from triple-A Salt Lake City to make his big league debut.

Kevin Elster drove in five runs with four hits for Texas. Juan Gonzalez hit his 38th home run and Will Clark followed with a homer in the fifth against reliever Jose Parra.

Chicago 10, Toronto 9--Pat Borders singled in the winning run with one out in the 10th inning to help the White Sox end a five-game losing streak at Chicago.

Dave Martinez opened the 10th with a double against Mike Timlin (1-5) and Domingo Cedeno sacrificed. After Tony Phillips was intentionally walked, Borders, a former Blue Jay, dumped a single to center to end Toronto’s seven-game winning streak.

Oakland 6, New York 4--On a day the Yankees honored Mickey Mantle, Mark McGwire reminded fans of how far the Hall of Famer could hit them, hitting a 446-foot shot to lead the Athletics at New York.

McGwire, the major leagues’ home run leader, hit his 44th homer in the second inning and drove in four runs. Oakland ended a five-game losing streak against New York.

During pregame ceremonies, the Yankees unveiled a stone monument honoring Mantle, who died last year.

Detroit 7, Kansas City 4--Todd Van Poppel, claimed off waivers from Oakland on Aug. 6, won for the first time in three starts for the Tigers at Kansas City.

Van Poppel (2-6) pitched six innings, giving up three runs on eight hits.

Travis Fryman homered and drove in three runs for the Tigers.