Avery Flirts With No-Hitter

Steve Avery flirted with a no-hitter for five innings and won his second consecutive start as the Boston Red Sox took three of four from the Indians in Cleveland with a 3-1 victory Monday night.

Avery (4-2), who hasn’t pitched a complete game since May, 1996 with Atlanta, didn’t allow a hit until Julio Franco lined a clean single to center leading off the sixth. The left-hander allowed one run and four hits in 7 2/3 innings, pitching into the seventh for the third straight time.

The last-place Red Sox have won six of eight, while first-place Cleveland is sputtering as the Seattle Mariners arrive today for a three-game series.

Boston took the season series from Cleveland, 6-5, after going 1-11 against the Indians last season.

After five strong innings, Avery nearly fell apart in the sixth, when Franco snapped a three-for-30 slump with a leadoff single.

Avery then had Omar Vizquel’s grounder go off his glove for a hit. Marquis Grissom sacrificed the runners to second and third, and Tony Fernandez hit a sacrifice fly that cut Boston’s lead to 2-1.

Avery, who has four career four-hitters, walked two and struck out four. He was taken out with two outs and a runner on first in the eighth after throwing 97 pitches.

Chicago 3, Detroit 0--Wilson Alvarez became the first White Sox pitcher to strike out four batters in an inning, and Frank Thomas homered off just-activated Justin Thompson to lead Chicago to victory at Detroit.

Alvarez struck out Tony Clark to start the seventh inning, then Phil Nevin then reached when he fanned on a wild pitch. Melvin Nieves and Orlando Miller struck out to end the inning.

Alvarez became the 28th player in modern major league history to fan four in an inning. Derek Wallace of the New York Mets was the last to do it, last Sept. 13.

Baltimore 5, Texas 1--Jimmy Key gave up six hits over six innings and Rafael Palmeiro gave the Orioles the lead for good with a two-run homer at Arlington, Texas.

Key (13-6) struck out seven and walked one to pull out of a tailspin during which he had lost five of six decisions. Key outpitched Darren Oliver (6-10), who allowed four runs and six hits over 6 1/3 innings.

AL Notes

Mo Vaughn will not be charged with assault until a man who says the Boston Red Sox first baseman hit him in the mouth can present more evidence that his story is true.

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BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

Player: Frank Thomas

Team: Chicago

Performance: 2 for 3, 2 walks, 2 runs, 2 RBIs

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Rafael Palmeiro

Team: Baltimore

1 for 3, two-run home run

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Paul O’Neill

Team: New York

2 for 5, 2 runs, 2 RBIs

Team’s Result: Win

PITCHING

Player: Andy Pettitte

Team: New York

Performance: 6 2/3 innings, 3 runs, 9 hits

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Steve Avery

Team: Boston

Performance: 7 2/3 innings, 1 run, 4 hits, 4 strikeouts

Team’s Result: Win

*

Player: Wilson Alvarez

Team: Chicago

Performance: 7 1/3 innings, 9 strikeouts, 4 in one inning

Team’s Result: Win