Indians Roll On Despite Injury

Even without the league leader in runs batted in and a struggling pitcher on the mound, the Cleveland Indians are as good as any team in baseball. The Seattle Mariners found that out Sunday night.

Jaret Wright had perhaps his best outing since late April and the Indians overcame the loss of Manny Ramirez, who left the game after two innings after being struck by a Frankie Rodriguez pitch, to rout the Mariners, 13-5.

Ramirez, baseball’s RBI leader with 79, had X-rays taken on his left index finger, which were negative. He has a bruised finger and is day-to-day.

“I thought I would prepare myself for the worst,” said Indian Manager Mike Hargrove, whose team has been ravaged by injuries this season. “It was nice when we found out it was negative.”

Even without their cleanup hitter, the Indians’ scoring machine kept chugging along at a record pace. Cleveland scored in double digits for the second consecutive game and 14th time this season.

The Indians, averaging 6.8 runs, have scored 54 runs in their last six games and remain on pace to set the major league record for runs in a season.

Omar Vizquel drove in three runs with a triple, Einar Diaz went four for five with three RBI and Richie Sexson hit a long homer after replacing Ramirez as the Indians won for the eighth time in nine games.

Despite fielding its opening day lineup only four times, Cleveland improved to 24 games over .500 for the first time this season.

Wright (6-3) equaled a career-high with seven walks in five innings during his previous start, but limited the Mariners to one run and five hits in 5 2/3 innings. He walked four and struck out five.

“Over here, scoring runs like this, you don’t have to be so fine,” said Wright, who is 2-0 since going winless in five consecutive starts. “Sometimes you just need to throw the ball over the plate.”

In the other dugout, Rodriguez felt bad about hitting Ramirez, a longtime friend.

“We played together for years,” he said. “Legion ball, sandlots. That pitch just got away. I called over there to see if he was all right. I said, I’m sorry.”

AROUND THE LEAGUE / Martinez Set for Rehab Start

Boston pitcher Ramon Martinez, coming off shoulder surgery, is scheduled to make his first rehab start today at class-A Lowell. His brother Pedro plans on seeing the game.

*

Tampa Bay placed pitcher Esteban Yan on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 17 and replaced him on the roster with reliever Albie Lopez. . . . Baltimore catcher Lenny Webster, out since May 13 because of a strained tendon in his right ankle, will begin a rehabilitation stint at Rochester on Tuesday.