McGwire Hammers 944 Feet of Homers

The Indians have more home runs than any team in baseball, 49 in 25 games. They’re hitting them at a pace that would yield 318 this season.

The record, 257 set by Baltimore last season, is in jeopardy.

But that’s quantity. Mark McGwire showed quality Wednesday night with two tape-measure homers in Oakland’s 11-9 victory in 10 innings at Cleveland.

McGwire’s second went 459 feet and led a four-run 10th for the Athletics. But it was puny by comparison to his first, which went 485 feet, longest in Jacobs Field history. It made a dent between the “e” and “i” of a large Budweiser sign on the scoreboard above the bleachers. The two-run shot capped a five-run third inning against Orel Hershiser and gave the A’s a 5-2 lead.

It was the first time the scoreboard has been hit, though McGwire and teammate Jose Canseco tried during batting practice Wednesday night.

“That ball was closer to 550,” said Canseco, who also homered to break a 6-6 tie in the eighth inning. “When he hit that ball, my jaw dropped. Did you see Hershiser? He went, ‘Wow.’ As soon as he hit it, I knew he smashed it. That’s radioactive. That guy is bionic.”

Said Indian Manager Mike Hargrove, “I’m surprised the scoreboard is still standing.”

McGwire was largely unimpressed, possibly because he never saw the ball land.

“I saw people standing, so I assumed something happened and when I came in the dugout the guys said it hit the board or something,” McGwire said.

New York 3, Seattle 2--Dennis Martinez’s losing streak to the Yankees grew to 12 in New York, where David Wells outpitched him and made Joe Torre the only active manager with 1,000 wins.

Martinez (1-2), the winningest active pitcher in the major leagues with 241 victories, fell to 0-12 in his last 15 starts against New York and hasn’t won at Yankee Stadium in 20 years or beaten the Yankees anywhere in 15.

The right-hander gave up seven hits in seven innings, but was done in by his own error and Wells (2-1), who struck out a season-high nine and didn’t walk a batter in 7 2/3. He gave up seven hits and struck out Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez twice each.

Toronto 1, Kansas City 0--Roger Clemens pitched three-hit ball over eight innings and Carlos Delgado drove in the only run with a second-inning homer for the Blue Jays, who won in Kansas City.

Clemens (4-0) struck out seven and lowered his ERA to 1.72. He left after throwing 109 pitches.

Dan Plesac relieved to start the ninth inning and walked leadoff batter Tom Goodwin. Paul Quantrill relieved and retired two batters before Paul Spoljaric got the final out--striking out Chili Davis--for his first save.

Detroit 8, Milwaukee 4--Melvin Nieves’ three-run double highlighted a four-run third inning for the Tigers, who won at Detroit and ended Milwaukee’s winning streak at four games.

Justin Thompson (2-2) gave up three runs on five hits in seven innings for the Tigers, who won for only the second time in seven games.

Baltimore 12, Minnesota 3--B.J. Surhoff and Pete Incaviglia homered on consecutive pitches for the Orioles, who won at Minneapolis and sent the Twins to their seventh loss in a row.

Surhoff had four of the Orioles’ 19 hits. He put the Orioles ahead, 1-0, with a homer in the second inning and then Incaviglia connected.

Brady Anderson’s two-run single highlighted a six-run ninth inning that broke the game open.

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BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result B.J. Surhoff Baltimore 4 for 5, solo home run Win N. Garciaparra Boston 3 for 3, 4 runs, home run, 2 doubles Win Mark McGwire Oakland 3 for 4, two tape-measure home runs Win

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PITCHING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result Roger Clemens Toronto 8 innings, 3 hits, 0 runs, 7 strikeouts Win Kevin Appier Kansas City 9 innings, 5 hits, 1 run, 7 strikeouts Loss David Wells New York 7 2/3 innings, 7 hits, 9 strikeouts Win

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