Ponson, Belle Lead Orioles, 6-3

Sidney Ponson of the Baltimore Orioles was on the brink of his sixth complete game when Manager Ray Miller stepped from the dugout.

The fans at Camden Yards booed his every step as he walked to the mound.

Ponson didn’t get to finish, although he could console himself with another victory in a sophomore season in which he has established himself as one of the finest young pitchers in the game.

Ponson scattered nine hits before leaving with one out in the ninth inning and Albert Belle hit a three-run homer Thursday night as the Orioles defeated the Detroit Tigers, 6-3, at Baltimore, handing the Tigers their ninth consecutive loss.

“I definitely wanted to go the distance, but Ray decides when I come out,” said Ponson, who threw 109 pitches. “He thought it was enough, and I have no problem with that.”

Ponson (10-7) struck out four and walked none. He was two outs from padding his American League lead in complete games when he was lifted after giving up a home run by Juan Encarnacion and a single to Gabe Alvarez.

“I figure it’s a no-brainer,” Miller said. “It probably was not a popular decision, but after the home run and base hit, it was time.”

Mike Timlin then got the final two outs for his 13th save in 21 chances.

Brady Anderson and Charles Johnson hit solo homers for the Orioles, who built a 6-1 lead after three innings and coasted to their second consecutive victory after a six-game skid.

The Orioles scored all their runs against Jeff Weaver (6-8), who gave up six runs and seven hits, including three homers, in 3 1/3 innings. Weaver, the Tigers’ top pick in the 1998 draft, is 0-5 in 12 starts since May 27.

New York 7, Seattle 4--Tino Martinez homered twice and Bernie Williams had four hits and three RBIs for the Yankees at Seattle.

Martinez, a former Mariner, hit homers No. 200 and 201 in the Yankees’ first appearance at Safeco Field. The Yankees pulled even with the Texas Rangers and Cleveland Indians for the top record in the American League at 65-42.

Roger Clemens (10-4) struggled early, but settled down in the middle innings. He gave up four runs and six hits in seven innings.

Martinez entered the game in an 0-for-15 slump and a 22-game homerless drought. He put an end to both streaks with a solo shot to open the second inning, and followed with a two-run blast in the sixth, his 16th of the year.

Chuck Knoblauch went three for four with a single, double and triple and scored three runs for the Yankees. Williams went four for five with a double and a triple, one day after he homered twice and drove in five runs in a win over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Oakland 7, Chicago 6--Scott Spiezio singled to left to drive home Ryan Christenson with the winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning at Oakland.