Boston Hits Five Homers to Win a Wild One

Five home runs will beat five passed balls any time.

That was the winning combination Friday night as Nomar Garciaparra hit two of Boston’s five homers and the Red Sox pounded Jaret Wright and the Indians, 12-5, at Cleveland.

Boston won despite five passed balls by Jason Varitek, one short of the major league record. He struggled to catch knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, with three runs scoring on passed balls.

“I was struggling to see the ball in the first couple of innings,” said Varitek, who countered his miscues with three hits, one a home run. “Actually, I think Tim enjoys it when there are some passed balls because it means his ball is moving.”

Wright (4-3) gave up nine hits and eight runs in 3 2/3 innings. It was his first start since American League President Gene Budig said he wanted to meet with Wright next week to discuss the pitcher’s “deportment on the mound.”

Wright was fined after hitting Detroit’s Tony Clark in the helmet with a pitch last Saturday. He faced Boston for the first time since hitting Darren Lewis with a high pitch that precipitated a fight April 29 in Fenway Park, which resulted in a five-game suspension for Wright.

None of Wright’s 72 pitches came close to a batter this time--but several were hit hard and two landed in the bleachers.

“Jaret needs to be aggressive to pitch,” Indian Manager Mike Hargrove said. “I hope he doesn’t let people take that away from him.”

New York 10, Toronto 6--The Blue Jays lost the game at Toronto and one of their best players.

On a night when Shawn Green broke his wrist, Derek Jeter hit three doubles and Scott Brosius drove in three runs as the Yankees recorded their third consecutive win.

Green’s left wrist was broken when he was hit by a pitch from Andy Pettitte in the fourth inning. Green left for a pinch-hitter in the fifth and is day to day.

Jeter, who drove in two runs, has reached base safely in all 46 games. He became the first Yankee to hit three doubles in a game since Bernie Williams against the Angels on Aug. 19, 1995.

Chicago 9, Detroit 1--Greg Norton homered twice for the second game in a row game and the White Sox hit six in all at Detroit.

The White Sox came within one of the team record for home runs in a game, set April 23, 1955, at Kansas City.

Brook Fordyce, Ray Durham, Frank Thomas and Paul Konerko also connected for Chicago.

Detroit’s Karim Garcia homered over the right-field roof, a blast that landed on the roof of a lumber yard across the street. It was the 30th homer over the right-field roof since Tiger Stadium took on its current configuration in 1938.

Oakland 2, Baltimore 1--Tom Candiotti earned his 150th victory by beating the Orioles at Oakland.

The win was Oakland’s ninth in a row at home, its longest such streak since another nine-game run in 1992. The A’s have won four in a row overall since returning from an 0-6 trip.

Candiotti (3-5), his knuckleball dancing and dropping in the cool night air, gave up four hits in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out three, walked none and generally confounded Baltimore batters.

Mike Mussina (7-2) held Oakland to six hits while going the distance. But Olmedo Saenz’s tiebreaking single in the sixth ended a five-game winning streak by the Baltimore ace.

Seattle 6, Tampa Bay 1--Ken Griffey Jr. went one for four at Seattle to extend his career-best hitting streak to 16 games.

The Mariners won their third game in a row and ninth in the past 11. The Devil Rays lost their season-worst sixth straight.

Rookie Freddy Garcia (6-1) won his third decision in a row.