McGwire Doubles Up to Retain Lead

Mark McGwire hit his 33rd and 34th homers, regaining the major league lead and moving past Joe DiMaggio on the career list, as the Oakland Athletics defeated the Kansas City Royals, 11-3, Wednesday night at Oakland.

McGwire’s three-run blast off reliever Mike Perez in the fourth inning tied him with Tino Martinez of the Yankees, who hit his 32nd and 33rd homers in New York’s 11-5 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

McGwire broke that tie by homering again off Jeff Montgomery to lead off the eighth.

The two homers moved McGwire past DiMaggio into 42nd place on the career list with 363 home runs. Baltimore’s Cal Ripken Jr. is in 41st place with 364 career homers.

Jose Canseco struck out in all five at-bats for the Athletics, tying an Oakland record. Combined with his three strikeouts Monday, he tied a major league record with eight whiffs in two consecutive games.

McGwire’s first homer capped a seven-run inning for the A’s. Oakland’s Carlos Reyes gave up three runs on six hits in three innings. He was removed because he had thrown 76 pitches, approaching the 80-pitch limit the A’s have imposed on all starters.

New York 11, Chicago 5-- Sure, he won the All-Star home run derby. But Tino Martinez is not locked in on the long ball, even though he has hit a career-best 33 home runs.

“I ignore the numbers and try to help the team win,” Martinez said after hitting a tie-breaking grand slam and a solo home run.

Martinez has 25 hits, including 11 homers, in his last 67 at-bats.

“I do have a lot of confidence up there. When you’re going good, you are able to lay off the bad stuff for some reason,” Martinez said. “I’m only hitting the good ones. When you’re slumping, you just swing at anything to try to get a hit.”

Martinez hit his fourth career grand slam off Wilson Alvarez (8-7) on an 0-2 pitch in the seventh after Derek Jeter’s single and walks to Luis Sojo and Paul O’Neill.

“I was in trouble with an 0-2 count,” Martinez said. “He made a good pitch, down and inside. I had been waiting for a pitch to hit a sacrifice fly and I got one. I just happened to hit it perfectly.”

Mariners 8, Twins 7--The Mariners rallied to win for the 25th time when Russ Davis hit a two-run single with one out in the ninth inning at Seattle.

The Mariners, who scored five runs in the eighth to take a 6-3 lead, needed to come from behind again after the Twins scored four runs in the top of the ninth.

Scott Sanders (3-6) got credit for the victory despite giving up Minnesota’s go-ahead run in the ninth.

Boston 4, Baltimore 1--Steve Avery won his first decision since April 22 and Mike Stanley hit a three-run homer off Jimmy Key as the Red Sox defeated the Orioles at Baltimore.

Avery (3-2), making his third start since coming off a two-month stint on the disabled list, gave up one run and eight hits in seven-plus innings. The left-hander struck out one, walked three and was aided by three double plays.

Signed as a free agent in January, Avery was 0-1 in four starts since beating Cleveland. Jim Corsi got three outs in the eighth and Heathcliff Slocumb worked the ninth for his 12th save.

Cleveland 4, Milwaukee 3--Rookie Jaret Wright pitched six effective innings and Brian Giles homered as the Indians won at Milwaukee.

Wright (2-0), making his first start since cutting his right index finger trying to bunt on July 1, gave up two runs and three hits. The 21-year-old right-hander struck out six in his third career start.

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BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result Mark McGwire Oakland Hit league-leading 33rd and 34th homers Win Todd Greene Angels Two homers for reserve catcher Win Tino Martinez New York 3 for 4, two homers, 5 RBIs Win Will Clark Texas 3 for 4, two doubles, 3 RBIs Win

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PITCHING

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Player Team Performance Team’s Result Darren Oliver Texas 8-hit, 4-strikeout shutout Win Steve Avery Boston 8 innings, 1 earned run, 1 strikeout Win

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