Role Players Become Stars for the Orioles

Mike Mussina did his part. So did Cal Ripken, and Eric Davis starred in a cameo appearance.

This time, though, the Baltimore Orioles also received a key boost from some of their role players.

Mike Bordick hit a three-run homer and newcomer Willie Greene doubled, scored a run and had a critical assist as the Orioles defeated the visiting Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 6-4, on Wednesday.

Mussina struck out 10 over seven innings to help Baltimore improve to 30-8 since the all-star break. Ripken went three for four with an run batted in to move within one hit of tying Brooks Robinson’s franchise record of 2,848 career hits, and Davis chipped in with a pinch-hit RBI double.

But much credit should be given to Bordick and Greene. Bordick’s eighth homer of the season--matching a career high--made it 3-0 in the second inning, and Greene threw out Paul Sorrento at the plate from right field with the score, 3-2, in the sixth.

It was Greene’s most significant contribution since joining the Orioles on Aug. 10 in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds.

Davis had a pinch-hit double in the eighth.

“Willie throwing out that guy at the plate was probably the biggest part of the game,” Mussina said.

Despite the victory, Baltimore remained seven games behind Boston in the wild-card race.

“In the last month we’ve been riding on guys’ coattails like Eric Davis, Rafael Palmeiro and obviously Robbie [Alomar],” Bordick said. “But it all comes down to pitching, and we’ve been getting some great pitching performances.”

Mussina (12-6) wasn’t sensational, but he was good enough. He threw 120 pitches, giving up two runs, nine hits and a walk. The right-hander struck out Randy Winn and Kevin Stocker three times each in recording at least 10 strikeouts for the fifth time this season.

Rookie Rolando Arrojo (11-10) fell to 0-4 in six starts since July 16.

Minnesota 5, New York 3--The Minnesota Twins made it three for three against Andy Pettitte this season, getting outstanding relief performances from Dan Serafini and Mike Trombley for a victory over the Yankees at Minneapolis.

Five different players drove in runs for the Twins, who won for only the third time in August and handed the Yankees their second loss in 14 games.

The Twins, whose three wins against the Yankees equal the most by any team this season, prevented New York from the best record this century through 123 games. The Yankees are 92-31, matching the 1906 Chicago Cubs’ 123-game mark.

Pettitte (14-7) gave up all five runs on nine hits in eight innings for his fifth complete game. He is 0-3 against Minnesota this season with an 8.27 earned-run average.

Serafini (6-4) lost his spot in the starting rotation Wednesday when Mike Morgan returned from the disabled list. But Serafini relieved Morgan with one out in the third and the Twins ahead 2-1.

He gave up three hits and one run over the next 3 2/3 innings, turning a 5-2 lead over to Trombley after singles by Joe Girardi and Chuck Knoblauch to start the seventh. Rick Aguilera got three outs for his 31st save.

Trombley walked Derek Jeter to load the bases, then struck out Paul O’Neill, Bernie Williams and Tino Martinez to end the threat.

Boston 11, Kansas City 1--Mike Stanley homered twice and drove in six runs and Tim Wakefield pitched his second complete game in the Red Sox’s victory at Kansas City, Mo.

Stanley, acquired from Toronto on July 30, hit a two-run homer in the Boston’s four-run first inning and added a two-run single in the four-run second.

Wakefield (15-5) pitched a five-hitter, with five walks and no strikeouts. His previous career best was a three-hitter, against Oakland on June 9, 1995.

Brian Barber (0-1), one day after being called up from triple-A Omaha, lasted only 1 2/3 innings in his Royals debut. The right-hander, who was 2-1 with St. Louis in 1995, gave up seven hits and eight runs, walked three and struck out none.

Texas 3, Cleveland 1--Charles Nagy gave up the lead with two consecutive bases-loaded walks during the Rangers’ three-run sixth inning as Texas snapped a three-game losing streak with a victory over the Indians at Arlington, Texas.

Nagy (10-9) walked Todd Zeile and Mike Simms for the second and third runs of the inning after Ivan Rodriguez’s infield single had tied the score, 1-1.

Aaron Sele (14-10) gave up one run and five hits in eight innings for only his second victory since July 4. Sele, who struck out three and walked one, won only one of his previous seven starts. The 14 victories is a career-high for Sele who won 13 games in 1997 for Boston.

John Wetteland pitched the ninth for his 33rd save.

Oakland 6, Chicago 0--Rookie Blake Stein threw a two-hitter for his first major league shutout as the Athletics continued their home run barrage at Oakland.

Stein, obtained in last summer’s deal that sent Mark McGwire to St. Louis, gave up only a bunt single by Mike Caruso in the first and a bloop triple by Magglio Ordonez in the second.

Stein (5-7) struck out three and walked five in his 18th major league start.

Mike Blowers hit a three-run homer and Mike Macfarlane had a two-run shot for the A’s.

Rickey Henderson drew his American League-leading 99th and 100th walks, reaching 100 walks for the seventh time in his 20-year career. He also got his major league-leading 53rd stolen base.