Indians Quietly Wrap Up Another Title in Central

The champagne was just as cold.

The championship was just as gratifying.

But after the Cleveland Indians won their second straight American League Central title Tuesday night by beating the White Sox, 9-4, at Chicago, the celebration was much quieter than it had been a year ago.

“The thing that made it so special last year was that it had been 41 years of frustration,” said Cleveland Manager Mike Hargrove. “There’s elation again. But we’re a little more subdued because the guys realize it’s just the first step. If you don’t focus, you go home early and we don’t want to go home early.”

Cleveland became the first team to clinch a playoff spot this year. The victory sends the Indians into postseason play in consecutive seasons for the first time in their 96-year history.

Manny Ramirez had three singles, a double and drove in three runs and Kevin Seitzer had a grand slam in Cleveland’s 15-hit attack, 13 of them allowed by losing pitcher Alex Fernandez (14-10). Brian Anderson (3-1) got the victory.

Seattle 5, Texas 2--Dave Hollins hit a go-ahead, two-run single at Seattle to highlight a four-run, sixth-inning rally that enabled the Mariners to close to within four games of the AL West-leading Rangers.

Seattle, which trailed by nine games on Sept. 11, has gained five games in the standings in six days thanks to a six-game winning streak.

Texas, trying for its first postseason appearance, has lost six of seven and is 7-9 in September.

Terry Mulholland (5-2) took a perfect game into the sixth and wound up allowing four hits in 6 1/3 innings. Ken Hill (15-10) took the loss.

Baltimore at New York, ppd.--The game between the AL East-leading Yankees and the runner-up Orioles, who are three games back, was rained out, leaving the teams quarreling about how to play a makeup game.

The Yankees want to schedule a day-night doubleheader Thursday, but the Orioles do not want it. Earlier this season, after a rainout in Baltimore, the Yankees turned down the Orioles’ request for a day-night doubleheader.

Milwaukee 4, Toronto 0--Ben McDonald (12-10) pitched eight scoreless innings, allowed three hits and matched his career high with 10 strikeouts at Milwaukee.

Losing pitcher Luis Andujar (1-3) left after being hit in the leg by a fifth-inning line drive off the bat of Jeromy Burnitz.

Boston 4, Detroit 2--Jose Canseco, who had been on the disabled list since July 26, returned as a pinch-hitter at Detroit and made an immediate impact, breaking a 2-2 tie by drawing a bases-loaded walk in the seventh inning.

The loss was the Tigers’ 100th of the season, the fourth time in club history they have reached that embarrassing mark.

It was the Tigers’ 10th straight loss.

Mark Brandenburg (5-5) got the victory over Felipe Lira (6-14), who lost his seventh straight decision.

Kansas City 4, Minnesota 2--Paul Molitor did not start for the first time this season, but he still got a cheer from the Kansas City crowd. Molitor, who has got his 3,000 hit Monday night, led off the ninth as a pinch-hitter and got a standing ovation. Molitor then singled for his AL-leading 213th hit.

It was Kansas City’s fourth straight win and Minnesota’s fifth consecutive loss.

Chris Haney (10-14) beat Scott Aldred (6-8).