Different Story, Same Result for Irabu

Hideki Irabu was hit hard but still managed to win his second major league start as the New York Yankees defeated the Cleveland Indians, 12-6, Tuesday at New York.

Irabu (2-0) gave up five runs and nine hits in five innings, striking out four and walking one. He gave up home runs to Tony Fernandez, Marquis Grissom and Matt Williams. Ramiro Mendoza came in for Irabu and finished for his first career save.

Irabu also committed his first balk, hit his first batter and was ripped by virtually every player in the Indian lineup. Unlike his first start, when he left the game to a standing ovation in a 10-3 victory, Irabu’s day was done after he gave up four runs in the fifth.

Tino Martinez hit his 31st homer, a three-run shot, as the Yankees got 17 hits and stopped Cleveland’s four-game winning streak.

A heat index in the low 100s contributed to a crowd of only 34,503, about 17,000 fewer than than in Irabu’s first Yankee Stadium appearance.

Oakland 8, Seattle 5--Mark McGwire hit his major league-leading 32nd homer, his 361st overall, and drove in four runs in the victory at Oakland.

Mike Mohler (1-8) pitched two scoreless relief innings, giving up one hit. Bill Taylor got four outs for his 17th save.

Jamie Moyer (9-3) lost for the first time since May 29.

Baltimore 8, Toronto 4--Lenny Webster drove in four runs and hit one of four homers given up by Juan Guzman at Baltimore as the Orioles completed a two-game sweep of the Blue Jays.

After Brady Anderson led off the game with a home run and Webster hit a two-run shot in the second inning, successive homers by B.J. Surhoff and Jeffrey Hammonds in the fourth gave Baltimore a 6-1 lead.

That was more than enough offense for Shawn Boskie (5-3), who gave up two runs and four hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out a season-high seven and walked none.

Webster, Hammonds and Rafael Palmeiro had three hits apiece for the Orioles.

Minnesota 8, Chicago 4--Brad Radke won his eighth consecutive start and Roberto Kelly hit a two-run homer to key a five-run fourth inning as the Twins won at Minneapolis.

Radke (12-5), who established a career high for victories, retired the first 13 batters before walking Harold Baines on a 3-2 pitch in the fifth. Staked to an 8-0 lead, he took a no-hitter into the sixth but gave up Mike Cameron’s leadoff bloop single into short center.

Radke also lost his shutout in the sixth with two unearned runs. Twin left fielder Matt Lawton misplayed Ray Durham’s liner for a two-base error that brought home Cameron and Ozzie Guillen, who had reached on an infield single.

Radke worked seven-plus innings and gave up three runs--one earned--five hits, and two walks while striking out three.

Milwaukee 5, Kansas City 2--Dave Nilsson homered twice and Scott Karl won for the first time since May 23 as the Brewers won at Kansas City, handing the Royals their 13th loss in 14 games.

Karl (3-10) gave up two runs and seven hits in seven-plus innings.

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BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

Player: Mark McGwire

Team: Oakland

Performance: 1 homer, 4 RBIs

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Dave Nilsson

Team: Milwaukee

Performance: 2 solo homers

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Lenny Webster

Team: Baltimore

Performance: 3 hits, 1 homer, 4 RBIs

Team’s Result: Win

PITCHING

Player: Brad Radke

Team: Minnesota

Performance: 7 innings, 5 hits, 3 runs, 3 strikeouts

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Mike Mohler

Team: Oakland

Performance: 2 innings of scoreless relief, 1 hit

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Shawn Boskie

Team: Baltimore

Performance: 5 2/3 innings, 4 hits, 7 strikeouts

Team’s Result: Win